I doubt the danger is any greater today than it was 100 years ago. We have access to information about it a lot more than we used to.
You are correct.
The number of kidnappings of “unrelated” persons (of all ages) in the US for the last year where you can get records is something like 175. For the entire year. For the entire country of 300 million people.
So, if you are on good terms with your spouse or the parent of your child, and there is no chance they will swoop down and take them...the chances of them getting hit by a car are huge compared to someone grabbing them and taking them away.
I live on a street next to a school. At 2:40 PM it is impossible to get out of my street because the line of cars waiting to pick up their fat kids is 200 cars deep.
If the parents all just went and stood on a street corner and watched out for the kids crossing the streets, they would all get a good exercise, the streets would be clear, and all of that gas would not be wasted, waiting in line.
Kids are not pansies. Their parents are.