My parents didn't walk drop me off. They walked me everywhere. Even in Year 8 they walked me to school, atleast I had someone to talk to.
Japan stays this way, where kids can walk about safely.
Unlike other countries where young students are driven everywhere by parents fearful of dangers and crimes that may never happen.
read also this, published today.
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/we...-the-247-lifestyle-20090721-drzc.html?page=-1
A longer piece on crime, fear and societal impacts, that also touches on how safe kids are walking the streets.
http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=11546#comments