This is what it is. There were just as many cars when I was little (6 or 7 years old) but I could walk anywhere I wanted with my friends "exploring" most of the day and no one even had the thought that we would be kidnapped or murdered. Fast forward and I am not even sure about letting my 16 year old walk by himself 3 blocks down the road to the corner store. And it isn't about cars! Also, I would say that there was likely just as much violence in the 70's but we didn't hear about every single instance, now we do through social media and the news so it seems pervasive. Also, I will say that nearly all the kids I know very much prefer playing video games or being on a laptop or phone rather than out walking through the tick infested woods like I used to love.
>FYSA: There is almost certainly lower violent crime risk and higher car risk than when you were growing up.
I agree with you and that is why I said that the problem is that we hear about every single instance now and really didn't back then unless it was a "big deal" or involved someone we knew.
>So why are you not sure about letting your 16 year old walk by himself?
I am more worried about someone fucking with him and recording it for online points (upvotes, likes, whatever) than I am about him being run over by a car. Also there is a lot more very aggressive homeless people about now than when I was young (there were zero that I remember) and their unpredictability is an issue.
