My DD walks to school (she is 12yo).Because I don't drive she has had the benefit of years of discussing safety strategies as we have walked as pedestrians together. Everytime we walk the route to her school/shops we encounter something worth discussing... usually it's the speed of cars as most exceed the limit. Other times it's sizing up other people walking... sometimes my DD gets a 'bad vibe' from them even as they are quite a distance away. We talk about how she would avoid coming into close contact with people she doesn't have a good feeling about... and we have talked about which houses in the neighbourhood she could probably safely enter to seek help if need be... these are usually the houses with toys lying around, or a visible cubby house, other 'clues' that it is a family house. Also, as pedestrians we have actually gotten to know alot of people in our neighbourhood, especially the little old ladies who I stop to have a chat with etc. They are a wealth of information regarding who are the 'nice' neighbours Anyhow, it takes a while to help your child to become street/stranger smart. IMO nothing beats actually getting out, on foot, and discussing scenarios as you walk.