A spate of accidents on one of Canterbury’s busiest roads has sparked a petition calling for a speed camera to slow motorists.

The campaign is being led by Sarah Song, chairman of the PTA at St Christopher’s School in New Dover Road, where her two children are taught.

She said drivers whizz along the 30mph stretch at speeds of more than 40mph, putting pedestrians and pupils at risk.

There have been numerous accidents in the last year, including one involving school cook Debbie Wallace, who was knocked down by a car and suffered a broken leg.

Parents waiting in parked cars have also been crashed into and a student at the nearby CATS College suffered a serious head injury after being hit by a vehicle earlier this month.

Sarah, 43, launched a petition and said anything to slow down the traffic would make it safer for the hundreds of young people who use the road.

She said: “When you stand on the pavement with the traffic going past, particularly lorries and buses, the pavement shakes.

“As parents we take our lives in our hands every time we attempt to cross the road with our children.

“Every time an accident occurs, usually at school drop-off time, parents and staff hold their breath wondering if it’s one of ours who has been involved.

“Several parents have already approached the county council about having changes made, but their rather derisory reply was that, ‘not enough accidents have taken place on the road’.

“Does it have to take a fatality in New Dover Road for something to happen? That’s exactly what we are trying to stop.”

Another mum, Rachael Halle-Smith, 47, said: “Surely, they could put in some sort of speed reduction measures like humps? It really is dangerous trying to cross the road now.”

Charlotte McLean has children at the school and is also its special educational needs teacher.

She said: “The speed limit is exceeded by many on a daily basis, which is being proven in the number of incidents occurring.”

Kent County Council says it considers all requests for new road safety measures.