[AdrianoKF]

At least in Germany (where I live), it is entirely normal for the pedestrian lights to be synchronized with the road parallel to it, meaning that turning cars will cross the path of walking pedestrians. However, by law pedestrians have the right of way in these situations (since cars are crossing their path), and generally that is being respected. I'd say that's what sets it apart from the US in that regard. We even have right on red in some metro areas, though admittedly that's where things can get quite dangerous at times.

[danielhep]

It's the same in the US legally speaking, but from what I've seen, intersections in Germany are designed so that the car is positions pretty much prependicularly to the crosswalk as it crosses, giving the driver good visibility to people crossing. And the right corners reduce the speed of people as they turn.