> You are American aren't you

I am Belgian. In the smaller Belgian cities that I frequent, pedestrians seem to wait for traffic lights.

Admittedly that is not the case in Brussels. Maybe it is a big city thing.

Not just an American thing, try jaywalking in Germany, they consider it so offensive that even some mothers will shield their children’s eyes to prevent them seeing you do it. You must be British, thinking you speak for the world ;)

After just two days in Vienna I changed from my London crossing style to the local style. The social pressure was just too great.

After week in London I've started to go on red in Warsaw. Life is too short to wait when nobody's driving.

> This is how normal people use lights in the rest of the world.

You're generalizing too much and making exact same mistake you're complaining about. Also jaywalking and going on the red light are not the same.

Here in Poland:

* you would get a ticket if police sees you crossing a pedestrian crossing on red light * you would also get one if there is pedestrian crossing near you(100m) and you don't use it while crossing * no crossing nearby ? You can pass unless it is something like a highway. You don't get priority in this case.

Not OP but I'm Bulgarian and find it insane how people in France and the UK cross with complete disregard for traffic lights. Afaik it's the same across former socialist countries (at least the ones I've been to). I may cross on a red light sometimes when there are absolutely no vehicles around but red means stop in all situations and when in doubt, for safety, you should assume the person with the heavier vehicle has right of way.