Normal risk V's stupidity

[youarekidding]

I would consider myself a fairly laid back person but certain situations have made me question whats normal risk and what is just plain stupidity.

For example I insist DS (6) sits in a booster in car, sat back with seat belt.

I know people who let DCs sit with no booster, sit without seat belt through shouldrer strap of backed seat with their arm over the seat belt and sit forwards to talk to driver, sit in booster with lap belt when only person in back. One family takes their children on a boat with no life jackets and were really shocked when I bought DS one to wear.

The argument from many is that you can't avaoid a car accident or a boat sinking.

Yet these same people give me the look when I let DS out to play in park (with about 20 other DCs aged 4-15) which I can see from 3 rooms in my house. Let DS jump in puddles/ mud when in woods, run towards sea and padddle at the beach, hang upside down in the park, go on half pipe at park on his bike and skateboard. Apparently all of which he can get dirty doing or are dangerous. And are unavoidable/ unescessary risks.

Please don't flame me I'm not being judgemental just really interested in what others deem as 'normal childhood risks' for learning and stupidity and unessecary risk.

If it helps the answers will make me re evaluate what I allow/do if needed.

TIA

Yes DS knows how to deal with strangers, well knows as in has been told he's never had to do it.

I'm selective about when he's allowed out - eg when theres dc's I know he knows, and/or older DC's about . He is an Aug baby (as am I) and I recall when growing up not being able to do things with kids in my year as I wasn't at the age deemed 'old enough' so try and let him do things year group appropriate and forget the chronological age if that makes sense? Obviously there are times when children in his year have been able to do things he's not been mature enough to do (probably related to age maturity - esp when he was still yr R and 4) but sometimes think that in some cases thats more to do with the child than an age thing?

TBH there seems to be a big difference in 4 and 5 yo but after that it seems to pan out.