[Oxidation]

> often you have to share the space with cars turning left when you cross.

The UK doesn't allow left through a red, so a green man means no cars will (legally) come at you.

The UK roads have lots of things that are annoying (and lots of good), but that's a good call in my book, even if it means cars at a red can't turn left even if the side-road crossing is (apparently) empty of pedestrians.

[throwaheyy]

Australia doesn’t either. But there will be a green straight-ahead signal that allows a turn through a crossing, or a red arrow that extinguishes. In pedestrian heavy areas these usually happen when the pedestrian light changes from green (cross) to flashing red (complete crossing). Therefore cars can travel through the crossing while pedestrians are still crossing, but the pedestrians get a head start.

[Symbiote]

On much of the European continent, drivers with a green light wishing to turn left or right must expect to give way to pedestrians who also have a green light.