Why don't parents let their children walk to school, or go out alone without an adult?

Fear of strangers or hurtling traffic might be the obvious answer.

Henry, 11, Annabel, 8, and Tom Feeney, 10, walk to school by themselves. Credit:Darrian Traynor

But many parents are worried that other parents, friends and teachers will disapprove, and judge them, according to a comprehensive survey of Victorian parents from the Judith Lumley Centre at La Trobe University.

Almost 1800 parents of children aged nine to 15 were interviewed on the phone about the social, environmental and other factors that made them think twice about letting their children walk to school alone, or play in the neighbourhood without an adult.