Doctor and ATV accident survivor urge people to drive carefully

MACON, Ga. – ATV season is in full swing in central Georgia, but that means more ATV accidents.

The U.S. Department of Transportation said these accidents peak in June, July and August. But one of the worst times for an ATV accident is Memorial Day Weekend.

This time of year is also busy at a small Macon business with 106 years of history: Capitol Cycle, which sells off-road vehicles.

That worries Fairview Park Hospital pediatric surgeon Andrew Bozeman.

“As the weather gets warmer, children like to go outside. We see an increase in ATV-related injuries, especially during the summer holidays,” Bozeman said.

Carter Greene was one of those injuries three years ago when he was a senior. He overturned his ATV, hit his head and suffered internal injuries.

“I drove every day when I could,” Greene said. “There was something to do. Like where I live, there’s not much to do.”

Today, his accident torments him so much that he can no longer look at ATVs with the same eyes.

“They removed about half a meter of my intestines. And they also removed my appendix,” Greene said.

Bozeman wants parents to prevent accidents by protecting their children’s heads with a helmet.

“Sometimes it’s very difficult to repair a brain injury because it can have long-term, devastating consequences,” Bozeman said.

It is also important to choose a helmet that has straps attached to the bottom and fits snugly around the head. Capitol Cycle marketing manager Robert Jennings said that’s because helmets break down and become loose over time. Capitol Cycle staff can fit helmets to each customer’s head. Jennings also recommends safety glasses to prevent debris from hurting you.

Bozeman said parents should decide whether to let their child ride an ATV based on maturity level, not just age.

“Just because a child shows interest in riding an ATV, he or she may not be ready for it. And if a child is under 16 years of age, they absolutely need … adult supervision,” Bozeman said.

Greene said he didn’t want other children to go through what he did three years ago.

“When you drive these things every day, you feel very, very comfortable with them. And you just lose the fear of what could happen to you,” he said.

He hopes children and adults don’t ride bikes this summer without a seat belt and helmet.

Also remember that in Georgia it is not legal to drive your ATV or UTV on city or local roads without a permit. This is because there is not proper friction on paved roads, making it more dangerous for drivers.