I think you mean "cars are periodically requested to stop", at least, I haven't seen any crosswalks around here with physical barriers that make the cars stop.

I think you mean "cars are periodically requested to stop", at least, I haven't seen any crosswalks around here with physical barriers that make the cars stop. But unfortunately, that's not the only hazard pedestrians face from cars, not too long ago I saw a car jump the curb and run into a (fortunately) empty bus shelter. If anyone was waiting at that shelter, they'd have ended up under the car. So yeah, I'd feel safer taking a paternoster every day than walking to work... at least then, my safety is in my own hands.