In my part of town, there is a local highway we have to cross to get to school. As there is no crossing guard, I will go walk them. This walk us like ten minutes, no problem. However, once kids go to the other schools in town the walk goes from 10 to 30 minutes easily. Since the kids still have to cross that highway that no one cars to safely stop, we have to drive the kids. So in this case, poor driving skills and poor pedestrian safety is why.
Where I grew up a bus was needed as the schools were too far away to walk.

In honor of Sir Patrick Stewart:
-Safe House in the Ass