It doesn't matter how legal it is or not. If a driver is expected to stop because I'm crossing but doesn't and I'm crippled or dead, that law means very little to me.

We should instead design crosswalks that are inherently safer. Ones that force drivers to slow down and look for pedestrains regardless of some flashing lights that may or may not work with a beg button.

I recently crossed over a crosswalk which was elevated to the pedestrian level, effectively functioning as a speed bump. There are clear sightlines on both sides of it. Broad daylight, it has huge signs that say "stop for pedestrians", zebra stripes, and it's a single lane each direction on a road that cuts through a public park. I didn't press the button and instead just started walking. A car was coming but had plenty of time to see me, saw me and stopped for me. But then when I had crossed he rolled down his window and shouted at me that I should have pressed the button. Like wtf dude? You saw me, you stopped. Idgaf about a button, you know how this is supposed to work. Get off your damn phone while you're driving if it's so hard for you to spot someone stepping out onto such a clearly marked crossing.

In Finland at least, and AFAIK most other European countries as well the law mandates drivers stop if they see a pedestrian about to cross the road. We have "intention to cross the road" buttons too, in some intersections with limited visibility or a lot of traffic – but by no means are you required to use them. From the looks of it crosswalks have the right of way in the US as well.

I can't really understand the assumption that people don't need to pay attention to the road because of some button. In a sensible legislation the driver is responsible for the accident even when the pedestrian is jaywalking unless they literally jump in front of the car from behind a bush or something. If the police rules you had a realistic chance to avoid the collision you, as the driver with a license meaning you've had the necessary tutoring, should be at fault.