Residents are calling for action to be taken to improve a “dangerous” zebra crossing close to three schools.

Drivers have been accused of constantly ignoring people attempting to cross Dartford Road in West Hill.

Parents and neighbours fear it is only a matter of time before a serious accident happens along the busy main road in and out of Dartford.

Garry Turner has nearly been knocked over twice over the last six months and believes the current crossing outside the off-licence is not fit for purpose.

He is also growing increasingly concerned about children walking to and from the two primary and secondary schools close.

Meanwhile, residents say they have been urging Kent County Council (KCC) to do something about the crossing for the last 20 years.

Garry, who runs the neighbourhood watch scheme in West Hill, says there have been “repeated and persistent” issues around near-misses and motorists failing to stop for pedestrians.

“People who live here face this danger every day,” he said.

“We are pressing KCC to take action now before more lives are put at risk.

“It shouldn't take a fatality to make positive community changes.”

He added: “Dartford Road is an area of high risk with repeated near misses due to lack of adequate crossing provision.

“I have witnessed cars speed over the crossing with people stepping onto the crossing many times.”

The pedestrian crossing, which sits outside Dartford Convenience store -directly opposite West Hill Primary Academy- is just a a short distance from Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School and Dartford Grammar School for Boys.

Residents would like to see the “zebra” scheme replaced with a more obvious pelican crossing, or 3D-painted crossing.

Other suggestions include relocating it to a safer location.

Garry added: “It is not only frequented by residents, but also has a high footfall from students.

“The safety of our children should be paramount, yet they are exposed to this risk on a daily basis.

”KCC has the power and responsibility to make our streets safer.”

Christina Bowden has also had to take evasive action.

She is one of the more than 100 residents who have signed a petition demanding action from the county’s highways authority.

She explained: "I was waiting to cross Dartford Road on the zebra crossing, from West Hill School to the shops opposite.

“The car to my right stopped at the crossing and I waited for the car to my left to stop. This was only a matter of a couple of seconds.

“When both cars were stationary I started to cross the road, at which point the first car to stop accelerated across the crossing and up the road.

“I was extremely fortunate that I was able to jump back in time to stop being hit."

Pupils from West Hill Primary Academy have also been writing to Dartford MP Gareth Johnson in a bid to get something done.

Speaking to KentOnline, Mr Johnson said: “The crossing is in a precarious place which gets very busy and dangerous during the school run.

“We need for school children to be able to cross the road as safely as possible so KCC, as the highways authority, need to carry out a review of crossing to see if a viable, safer place can be found for it.

“In the meantime, we need motorists to use extra care along that stretch of road to ensure the safety of all pedestrians not least the children trying to get to school."

A shopkeeper, who did not want to be named, said he watches the crossing from his shop throughout the day and often has to race out to help people.

“My 10-year-old son was almost hit once, so I always go out to help him cross. I often see people struggling so go out and help them.

“They are standing on the edge of the road but the cars just keep going.

“It’s very dangerous.”

He is particularly concerned for the secondary school children walking home from school alone.

“There are so many children crossing I am always coming out and telling them to be careful,” he added.

Another resident, who did not want to be named, said: “That crossing has been such an issue for so long around here.”

So far, nearly 300 people have signed the petition. Click here to sign.

Garry cited national statistics from the Department for Transport showing a 30 percent increase in the number of pedestrians killed or seriously injured on the country’s roads in the last reported year to June 2022, compared to the previous year.

A KCC spokesperson said: “We are unable to consider petitions which have not yet been submitted to KCC.

“Petitions submitted to KCC are processed in accordance with the petition scheme, which is published on our website.”