Pedestrian Craziness

Isn't it amazing how pedestrians often check that the road is clear, then trek out across multiple lanes assuming that it will remain clear all the way? In their minds, once they've had that initial look, they're enclosed in a protective forcefield that oncoming traffic can't penetrate. In reality, the traffic lights have changed and three lanes of cars and trucks are racing towards them at high speed. Particularly for people preoccupied with their mobile phones or listening to music, or in stormy conditions when umbrellas are up. Psychologically, these situations give the person on foot a misleading feeling of being separated from the traffic, and somehow protected from it.