Disclaimer : I only read the beginning text, ie the TC's thoughts.
I kind of disagree with your assumption, to be direct, no one really wants to get hit by a car while walking in the road, but these things happen quite a lot, especially on highways (Where some drivers think is a race track), that's why on these road(s) there are alternative ways to cross it like overpasses, and thus possible jaywalking fines when you go thru the road. Everyone obeying those jaywalking laws in theory would save lives.
So sometimes knowledge or common sense are not enough and it can cause accidents so sometimes these laws are needed.
Even passing through the crosswalks isn't necessarily safe until the driver(s) have stopped their cars otherwise they could be heading to run over the pedestrians, which has happen over time and still does.