Young children walking to school is common here in Australia.  It is not considered the slightest bit newsworthy.<p>I live opposite a primary school. Everyday I see children who must be 6 or 7 years old walk to it.<p>I guess that it is all to do with the level of criminality in the general community. The USA does have a homicide rate and a violent crime rate that is significantly higher than than of many other rich nations.