PARENTS of pupils at a Reigate school say safety measures have not kept up with its expansion.
Joanne Breeden-West's petition urging Surrey County Council to improve safety outside Sandcross Primary School has already attracted close to 500 supporters.
She and other parents are concerned that motorists are driving too fast, parking on pavements and forcing youngsters to walk on the road.
Mrs Breeden-West, mother of Year 2 pupil Liam, said: "When they merged the two schools they didn't do anything about the increased traffic outside.
"Cars are driving on pavements to get around other cars. The speed limit needs to be reduced.
"My son starts Year 3 next year. He should be allowed to walk to school on his own but it's too dangerous. It's not him I don't trust, it's the drivers."
The Sandcross Lane school is the biggest primary in the county, now with 800 pupils on its roll following last year's merger with the infants school.
The 11-classroom extension went ahead, despite opposition from Reigate and Banstead Borough Council and neighbouring residents concerned about traffic.
Measures parents have petitioned for include extending the barriers protecting pedestrians from traffic, and improving the crossing where the lollipop lady stands, which currently doesn't have a dropped kerb.
Mrs Breeden-West, who sometimes uses a mobility scooter to take her son to school, says she is often forced into the road.
She added: "When it's raining the traffic gets to the point it's not moving.
"Everybody we have spoken to can't believe how bad it's got. People park wherever they want.
"There are people with buggies walking out into the road.
"It's a great school, I'm not condemning the school in any way. The council made it bigger but did nothing for the traffic.
"I know it happens to every school, but at the same time people should abide by the law and they're not."
Head teacher Judith Constable has backed the campaign, saying: "I am really impressed to see a group of parents have decided to take action on the important issue of road safety, one which affects all schools."
She said children in different year groups started and finished at different times to mitigate the problems, and staff parked at the South Park Football Club grounds.
Mrs Constable added: "We ask all parents not to bring a car within five minutes walk of the school, to reduce congestion."
She said the school has continually asked for longer barriers, extended double yellow lines and a dropped kerb since its merger.
"We warmly encourage people to report cars which park dangerously to the local police," she added.
"The Casualty Reduction Officers from Surrey Police are regular visitors to the roads around the school, working with the parking enforcement officers and issuing tickets where needed. We very much appreciate their support, but the barriers are needed to keep children and families safe on narrow pavements."
A county council spokesman said school staff were being trained in pedestrian safety.
She added: "Following our risk assessment, we are already planning to provide a dropped kerb where the lollipop lady stands.We will also be carrying out some drainage work to get rid of the puddles which form at the crossing which may cause people to avoid it and can reduce vehicles' braking ability.
"We will respond to the specific requests included in the petition when it is presented to us."
