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The word jaywalker traces back to 1917 and labels it 'originally US'. There is a cross-reference to the word jay, which has a number of slang senses. The relevant one is 'a stupid or dull person, a simpleton. Also (as adjective) dull, unsophisticated; inferior, poor'. This is labelled 'US colloquial', and there is evidence of use from 1900. So persons who stupidly ignored traffic regulations were given (in Boston, it seems) this compact name.
For example, in Tempe, AZ , jaywalking carries fines up to $64.00, in other cities including Manchester, N.H., and Salt Lake City fines range from $57 to a whopping $750. In Brisbane, fines of up to $A200 can apply.
There is an urban legend that jaywalking is safer than crossing certain intersections. It goes something like this:
When you cross at an intersection, traffic is going in at least four different directions in your proximity. Vehicles are turning left or right across your path, usually at high speed, sometimes without signalling, and sometimes running red lights.
In the middle of the block, cars are generally going in two directions. If there is an island in the center of the road, as far as you're concerned you only have to worry about traffic going in one direction. Not only that, but you can actually see all the cars coming, unlike at an intersection where a car may be coming around a corner. Once you see no cars coming, you can cross, and you're pretty much guaranteed a car won't come racing around the corner and squash you like a bug.
Of course, there are exceptions; a 10 lane road with constant heavy traffic is definitely safer to cross at an intersection, but for most roads, crossing in the middle of the block is probably safer.
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