Crossing at a crosswalk should be done with the same caution and care that one must observe when riding a bicycle or motorcycle...that is, you MUST assume the motorist does NOT see you, and that if you do not ensure you are seen, they WILL hit you.
Crosswalks make me absolutely nervous and irritable. There are so many things that can result in a mishap, that I nearly get angry when I see people just walk out into a crosswalk with the air that they have the right of way.
I get cranky when people stand in the mouth of the crosswalk as if they are going to cross, but they are chatting with each other or looking at their smartphone. When I cross, if I am not absolutely ready to go, I back out of the mouth of the crosswalk, and even turn my back on the road so drivers know I am not going to jump out and cross.
I hate it when people just saunter out, and take their damned sweet time going across, as if walking across that crosswalk is the height of their day, and they want to go as slowly and deliberately as possible. This one only applies to healthy, ambulatory people not of the elderly category. Those folks can take all day, I have no problem with that. But it bugs me when you get some 22 year old hipster who just walks across as if everyone has all day to wait for them. When I get the go-ahead to cross, I get on and off the road as quickly as I can safely do.
If I sound like I have an issue with crosswalking, it is because I live near a Leftist town in a blue state, and have to drive through it every day, and there are at least six crosswalks in one short stretch, and every Leftist denizen of this blue town acts exactly in the same stupid and inconsiderate manner when it comes to crossing in those crosswalks.
I will add one more thing, and ladyjane, you referenced it: to be aware of cars/trucks making left hand turns. I always wait for the pedestrian light to cross, and I never step out when the cross light turns to WALK. I always look, because people blow through lights and stop signs around here like it is nobody’s business.
Again, I just assume they are going to hit me, and I act accordingly.
A couple of years ago I was hit by a car making a left turn at an intersection. Yes, I looked abd had waited for the walk sign and still waited a bit. Fortunately I wasn’t seriously hurt although the bill for the emergency room was 25k. I had a friend who wasn’t so lucky trying to cross. Very sad, he had three little kids.
Slightly off topic - have people noticed the increase in the number of hit and run accidents? Just about every day I hear about at least one.