Yep, just a recommendation and very unlikely ever passed as a law I'd say.

DD1 has walked or ridden a couple of times when the little kids were sick/asleep, but when I told her dad he was horrified and told me he wasn't ok with that at all. We only live 600metres max from the school and 2very minor and 1busy (for us - not you city folk ) road away and she's very responsible and perceptive and I rang my gfs at school to check she had gotten there - but she's still a kid and I do understand. We are both part of a rare breed of the population Jo have seen and know too much too IYKWIM.

I also don't think she should have to shoulder the responsibility of looking after a small boy either.

There are, however heaps of latchkey kids that go to the school. They walk both ways every day. OOSH here is hideously expensive and there are few places. When DD1was in transition, one of the little girls in her year was picked up by a random (nice, thankfully) over 3km from where she should have been. It prompted a rash of safety talks, but ultimately I think that is really only preaching to the believers. The community here is a bit different to most of yours.