Parents were always worried when their kids went out. But, they let them live.
It's far safer now than it has ever been. Don't let the nannies fool you with their scare tactics. The bottom line is that they hate freedom.
Maybe it’s far safer now because parents no longer let kids run free.
When I was a kid, we would leave in the morning and come back home (usually) before dark. No big deal. That is virtually unheard of now.
Fewer opportunities for predators now = lower crime stats.