They are the manufacturers of urban mayhem, a small but self-serving group whose laziness is putting every primary school child at risk of serious injury, or worse.

Who are we talking about?

Of course, it's the parents who feel they have no choice but to drive their little ones to school then – totally oblivious to the safety of others – park their giant cars at the school gates and then linger until the kids are inside the building.

They will have all sorts of excuses. "I'm still in my pyjamas" (you may not believe this, but it's true – turn to Page 3), or "I ran out of time", or "I have to see them through the school door".

In fact, the real reason is that they cannot be bothered walking to school, or even parking a few hundred yards from the school and accompanying their child to the gates. Frankly, there is no excuse.

Most schools make it abundantly clear that parking outside the gates is a no-no.

Yet every morning, despite warning letters from the heads, posters and markings on the road, small numbers of parents ignore these requests and park wherever they want.

It is selfish, it is dangerous and it has to stop. Now, maybe it will.

Bristol City Council has identified 16 schools where the problem is acute and now proposals have been drafted which will make it illegal to park outside the school gates from 8am to 6pm. This system will be policed by traffic wardens.

In theory, it sounds good.

In practice, there is the danger that sly parents will do a quick recce, decide if no wardens are about then take the small risk that they would be caught.

At that point, they will simply ignore all the markings, pleas from the head and so on and simply do what they have always done, ie park outside the gates.

The initiative is good and it will help, but the real enforcers need to be the other parents who remain vigilant when the wardens are not around.

And those brave enough to confront the selfish drivers must be given backing by other parents.

This, along with the new rules, may be enough to stop a child being killed at a place where he or she should feel most safe.