It's more from a norms / politeness perspective that we don't; it's simply not accepted that you can just walk into the road when you want to get across because

It's more from a norms / politeness perspective that we don't; it's simply not accepted that you can just walk into the road when you want to get across because (most of us) we don't want to be judged by others for behaving recklessly Anyone who has ever lived (or otherwise spent a lot of time driving) in a bad neighborhood knows intimately that this is true. People walk in the street in rough places. And there aren't any norms compelling them to get out of the way.