At just five years A. Aakaash, a UKG student of Padma Seshadri School in Chennai is already on a social mission — he has adopted the role of an ambassador of road safety carrying the important message of wearing helmets to motorists.
As a long queue of vehicles wait at the Indira Gandhi square signal, Aakaash distributes pamphlets to the motorists with a message, “Uncle, please wear a helmet. It is for your safety.”
Aakaash, who has participated in various awareness campaigns organised by the Chennai Traffic police, was in Puducherry on Saturday to drive home the message on the importance of wearing helmets.
A couple of months ago Aakaash was travelling with his parents Anandan and Yogalakshmi on a two-wheeler when he witnessed a road accident in the city.
“When Aakaash asked me about the incident I told him that the victim died due to a head injury. The rider would have escaped had he worn a helmet. It made a permanent impression on his mind,” said A. Yogalakshmi, Aakaash’s mother.
The incident motivated Aakaash who has since then been propagating the importance of wearing helmets at busy traffic signals and events on road safety.
The boy doesn’t stop with telling the motorists at traffic signals alone but he also persuades those visiting his home on the importance of wearing helmets.
He also carries the message to his friends in school and urges them to ensure that their parents wear helmets while riding two-wheelers.
