JASON PRIESTLEY - NEW DAD PRIESTLEY BECOMES SLOW + SAFE

NEW DAD PRIESTLEY BECOMES SLOW + SAFE

Fatherhood has slowed former BEVERLY HILLS, 90210 star JASON PRIESTLEY down - literally. The actor admits the birth of new baby Ava has made him rethink his plans to make a car racing comeback after a 2002 crash left him with shattered legs. Priestley admits he didn't consider quitting racing after his headline-grabbing speedway accident - because he had been a professional in the sport for 11 years and always knew he was risking serious injury and even death every time he got behind the wheel. But the recent birth of his first child forced the star to rethink his racing ambitions. He tells America's Us Weekly magazine, "I'm done with all the crazy and stupid things." Nowadays, Priestley even gives up the family car and cycles to work. His wife Naomi Lowde-Priestley says, "He has now agreed to start wearing a helmet when he rides his bicycle." He admits he had no choice after his mother "laid into" him one day: "(I said) 'There is no way I would ever wear a bike helmet,' but my mom was here and when I said that, she laid into me. "She said, 'What are you going to do when your daughter says, 'Why should I wear a helmet when you don't?' So I gave in."