He also challenged parents to put a stop to the dangerous game before they find themselves grieving the loss of a child.

The “absolutely horrendous” incident occurred shortly after 8.30 this morning on the eastbound stretch of Kingsway East, near the fire station and yards from where a pedestrian was killed in November.

“You get used to kids dodging across the road in the heavy traffic in that area because there is a shortage of suitable crossings for them getting to school,” said one witness.

“But this was completely different. This group were running backwards and forwards across the lanes, obviously trying to do it as many times as they could before the traffic reached them.

“It wasn’t as if they were weaving in and out of queued traffic, like you sometimes see — they were doing it in the face of fast-moving vehicles.

“There was an articulated lorry bearing down on them, and fortunately the driver was wise enough to slow right down and pass at a crawl.

“If there had been a car in the other lane, however, the lorry could have masked their sight of the kids and the kids’ view of it.

“You’re talking about five or six kids, probably about 12 or 13, having a laugh on their way to school and not thinking about the consequences.

“They were falling about at the side of the road laughing as I passed them. You can only hope this was a one-off, because if they keep doing it somebody is going to be seriously hurt or killed.”

Concerns have long been expressed about both the behaviour of pupils and the hazards facing them as they make their way to Craigie High.

The death of a 66-year-old man near the Scott Fyfe roundabout underlined the potential for tragedy and prompted one retired police inspector to describe the area as “one of the worst accident blackspots in Scotland”.

Talks have been held regarding safety improvements for the roundabout, and a report of possible measures is expected this month.

Councillor Corrigan, who represents the Craigiebank ward, said today’s incident was “absolutely horrendous”.

He continued, “I am utterly shocked that even children of that age do not have the sense to know people in charge of vehicles, especially large articulated vehicles, are simply not able to respond when things like that happen.

“As well as putting themselves in danger of not just getting hurt but killed, squashed under a lorry, they are causing great stress to the drivers.

“I will be getting on to the police saying this has been brought to my attention, and also putting in an urgent call to the rector of Craigie High.

“I also want to appeal to parents to get this stopped, because if the children behave like that it is by the grace of God one of these parents is not grieving a badly-injured or dead child.”

The councillor said he would be reminding the council and trunk road authority BEAR Scotland about the report due this month.

“But to be honest, this is so reckless and culpable behaviour that, no matter what safety measures were put in place, children are going to ignore it,” he added.

Traffic Inspector Gordon Taylor of Tayside Police said action would be taken against any youngsters seen behaving recklessly in the area.

“This type of activity is extremely dangerous, and should anything occur it is the young person who will sustain serious injuries or could be killed,” he said.

“We will be contacting the local schools to flag this up. We have been in the Arbroath Road area regularly with the CCTV vehicle as well, and will continue to monitor the area around the Scott Fyfe roundabout.

“If anyone is seen behaving like this then appropriate action will be taken.”