under 5's, safety in public places

Many years ago when traffic was less young children were always on a set of leading reins. Captured safely around the body, over the shoulders and held by a a pair of reins by a parent. This now seems to have become unfashionable. In the area where i live we always have a big funfair for 2 weeks in February. A fair of some kind has been held on the same site for over 800 years. Admitted it has changed over the years. Last year a 3 year was tragedly killed as his family were either approaching or leaving the site of the fair, killed by a car. The child was not on a set of reins, was apparently walking/running free of restraint as his parents walked along with another child in a pushchair. The Fairground was blamed, the car driver was blamed, but the Coroner put the lack of parental control as the pivotal factor in this incident. It was a really awful, tragic thing to happen, but it should be remembered that a small child,excitedly running out from behind parked cars, is too short to be seen,even at at 5.30 - 6pm on a february night, with cars parked on streets, people going to and from the Fair, the noise, and general hubub, an Adult would almost certainly have been seen. Parents must remember that they are responsible for the safety of their children at all times.
Please can a group like Gransnet make a plea for the revival of leading reins,? i have not seen any worth buying for years. The last time i saw anything resembling them were a kind of elasticated wrist bracelet which seemed to just ensure that your child was not lost in shops.