Roads aren’t always empty. I’m not sure what kind of question this is?

But even they are empty, jaywalking is still a crime. Why?

Because it improves safety.

By way of context as to the vigorous enforcement of this law, NYC gave out 300 jaywalking tickets last year. That is not a lot.

In fact that's only about 2x the number of pedestrian deaths in NYC last year.

And this is a city where everyone pedestrian or driver will take every inch they can. Any driver who hesitates is going to find an entire group waiting for a light taking the opportunity to just start crossing.

> Because it improves safety.

Does it? How do you know that?

New York (jaywalking laws in effect) has slightly worse road safety than for example London (no jaywalking laws.)

Jaywalking is against the law whether there are cars in the road or not.