There's a silly tendency in discussion of US issues to prefer examples from European countries over the almost-always more applicable examples from US states. This isn't to say European or other international examples aren't extremely useful, but when there are multiple possible equivalent examples, the ones from places that are most closely related to the place under discussion are likely to be more informative. (For instance, people love to cite Sweden when discussing the US educational system, but it's usually more illuminating to look at similarly wealthy states like Massachusetts for information about what could actually be ported to the US.) </rant>
Anyways, in a minority of US states cars are required to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk, while they are required to yield to them in all states.
> Nine states and the District of Columbia require motorists to stop when approaching a pedestrian in an uncontrolled crosswalk. Minnesota mandates that a motorist stop when a pedestrian is in any portion of the roadway. Six states and D.C. require a motorist to stop when a pedestrian is upon the same half of the roadway or within one lane of the lane that the motorist is traveling upon, and two states require a motorist to stop when a pedestrian is upon the same half of the roadway or approaching closely enough from the opposite side of the roadway to constitute a danger...The majority of states, however, only require motorists to yield to, rather than stop for, pedestrians crossing at uncontrolled crosswalks. Nineteen states require a motorist to yield when a pedestrian is upon any portion of the roadway.
I agree with you there is a silly tendency and it is pretty annoying to see it. But this is what I am seeing myself, since I grew up in NYC. I have grown used to having cars stop for me when crossing the street.
For all other places in Europe (like Paris), it's same as usual - cars just will zoom by, except for lights.
I have always been a tad uncomfortable after getting hit by a car when I was 14. I mean, it's nice to see cars stop, but I am still not trustful of those behind the wheel (and who should be anyway?)
Anyways, in a minority of US states cars are required to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk, while they are required to yield to them in all states.
> Nine states and the District of Columbia require motorists to stop when approaching a pedestrian in an uncontrolled crosswalk. Minnesota mandates that a motorist stop when a pedestrian is in any portion of the roadway. Six states and D.C. require a motorist to stop when a pedestrian is upon the same half of the roadway or within one lane of the lane that the motorist is traveling upon, and two states require a motorist to stop when a pedestrian is upon the same half of the roadway or approaching closely enough from the opposite side of the roadway to constitute a danger...The majority of states, however, only require motorists to yield to, rather than stop for, pedestrians crossing at uncontrolled crosswalks. Nineteen states require a motorist to yield when a pedestrian is upon any portion of the roadway.
http://www.ncsl.org/research/transportation/pedestrian-cross...