I think that all mentioned above is relevant, but most of all, it is the value of life.
Personally, I'm a cheeky pedestrian. I mean, I just want to exercise my right to cross the street. Which in the country where I live, Bulgaria, is often taken away from pedestrians. So, I just step on the crossing, showing the cars that they have to stop.
Well, don't ask me how many times I was going to be run over. The last time was this summer. I would be run over at the pedestrian crossing by an elderly man whom I could clearly see cursing me inside his car. He had no intention of stopping for me.
But Bulgaria is a country that doesn't need a comment...you probably already know that too.