Parents living in fear that a “dangerous” crossing near a primary school will soon claim a child’s life have launched a petition calling for safety measures.

About 600 people have signed the petition to persuade Haringey Council to install a safer crossing in North Hill, Highgate.

Parents of children at Highgate Primary School, in nearby Storey Road, began the “North Hill Nightmare” campaign because they say it is only a matter of time before someone is killed while crossing the busy road.

Parent governor Charley Allan, who created the petition, said: “The school would like to encourage the children to walk but it can’t do that in good conscience because of the dangerous crossing.

“The most depressing thing is that the council is basically saying they won’t do anything until someone is killed. But we are not prepared to wait for that to happen.

“Haringey Council has to act before something awful happens.”

At the moment, pedestrians have to wait until there is no traffic to walk to a pedestrian refuge island half-way across the road, before waiting again.

Parents have joined residents and businesses along North Hill to ask Haringey Council to install a pelican crossing.

The petition needs at least 2,200 signatures before the issue can be debated at a full council meeting.

Mr Allan, 40, a journalist, of Shepherd’s Hill, said cars and vans often break the 30mph speed limit along North Hill as they treat it as an A-road or as an alternative to Archway Road.

The father-of-two warned that the elderly and sick are also at risk, as Highgate Group Practice GP surgery sits on the corner of Church Road and North Hill and many retired people live in the area.

There have been at least two fatal accidents at pedestrian crossings in North Hill in the last 10 years, including the deaths of Highgate Society member Lady Joan Neale, and an elderly man struck near Park House Passage.

In August, 80-year-old dementia sufferer Margaret Burn suffered a fractured spine after a cyclist rushed through a red light and collided with her.

William Dean, headteacher of Highgate Primaryl, said: “We frequently see children and families caught halfway across the road as the lights turn green. With heavy goods vehicles travelling at speed, it is clear that this is a serious accident waiting to happen.”

A Haringey Council spokesman said: “We are aware of concerns about this junction and are committed to supporting the road safety of young people and pedestrians across the borough.

“We ensure resources are prioritised where they are needed most.”

See the petition at: http://tinyurl.com/northhillnightmare