[KnuthIsGod]

On the other hand, stuff happens.

Depends on your risk appetite and your systems tolerance for the inevitable consequences of errors...

A 5 year old free range kid on a scooter died outside a nearby school a few months ago.

Hit by a SUV

Was riding back from primary school on a scooter, without the mother.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-14/islah-metcalfe-rouse-...

A massive investigation, police, social services, traffic consultants, a million plus spent on upgrading safety, mother and father demonised in the community,etc ...

Teachers involved who responded or gave CPR ( I know some of them) given counselling.

The mother is likely to have lost custody of her other children.

[projektfu]

There was no support in the link for your assertion that the mother is likely to lose custody. Money was raised in support of the parents. Your link says two other children were struck at the same intersection before this, and the municipality didn't take notice. Yet you blame the parents for not driving to school instead of the driver of the truck, and the traffic situation?

This is really the problem.

[namero999]

As a counter example, I witnessed 3 months ago a similar scene in my neighborhood, where a kid on a bike, crossing on pedestrian stripes, was hit by a taxi. It was a bad accident but luckily he didn't die. His dad was following right behind him. I'm leaning to think that "shit happens" in any case, but overprotection adds on top another layer of subtle, long term risks.