Kids would actually play in quiet neighborhood streets or cul-de-sacs and the like. Drivers would drive slower because they knew kids would be playing, and kids would all get out of the way when one of them heard or saw a car.

"Street Hockey" was a thing.

I'm not sure exactly why, but it's not really a thing anymore. Seems like there are more cars and the quiet neighbourhood streets are more likely to be considered "shortcuts" these days. And where I live, there's little traffic enforcement, so rather than driving the speed limit (or less in areas where kids might be playing), people are happily speeding while playing with screens and devices in their cars.