Being dependent on adults to drive cars is the crippling component.

If there were free taxi services (or other transit), kids would be fine.

And honestly, most of the evil comes from overly-empowering parents. "I don't think you should go there / do that / hang out with those friends" is toxic.

Healthier, as kids mature, for them to be able to do things that parents disapprove of... but can't stop. While still allowing prevention of serious choices.

Making kids dependent on parents' cars increases parents' power from "I can speak out about things I disagree with" to "My agreement is required for anything to happen."

And that's really not healthy, for the kid or the parent.