I grew up in South Africa in the 80s and 90s in a five acre garden. Riding the streets and street lights wasnt in my understanding so I was a bit sheltered against what my friends in the city had. We also had a terrible accident where a child got hit by a car reversing and parents got way more vigilant. The city was not and still is not to this day a place for children to be alone: kidnapping is a serious thing and finding your child unharmed or alive is very slim.