The lack of markings also makes it really dangerous to be anywhere near the road without a steel cage of some sort. I can't count the number of times I've nearly been run over in a crosswalk by people turning into it at a red light. I can't imagine how much more dangerous they would be if we took all the markings off and relied solely on their flawed judgement.
A big part of that is the corner-building tendencies that US civil engineers have. Often they'll build the corner in a broad sweep that makes it easier to turn at high speed. If it was built aggressively to force traffic to slow, it'd also be a shorter distance for pedestrians to cross.
Pedestrians also really need to pay attention. I have never had a close call because I treat traffic as the highly dangerous place it is. Yet, I see plenty of people practically throw themselves into oncoming traffic the instant the crosswalk changes.
It would behoove pedestrians to pay attention simply so they don't die.
Claiming they are obligated to, however is entirely wrong. (And in fact, in my country a car hitting a lesser traffic member is at fault be default, with only some percentages removed if the other member actively caused an accident.)
Cars are obligated to ensure they don't kill anyone even when that other one is behaving irresponsibly.
Alternatively, car drivers need to recognise the fact that they're in control of a lethal bit of machinery and drive appropriately - and this means stopping at the lights.
I recently saw someone walk in front of a train that had just started to leave the station. There were warning lights and bells on the train, which was slowly approaching the crosswalk. (There were no pedestrian boom gates for this level crossing.)
The person did a huge jump backwards when the engineer blew the train's horn.
I still couldn't believe that someone would cross train tracks without looking.
"Turning into a red light" - lack of markings is coupled with removal of traffic signs and different road and sidewalk designs. Turning a blind corner in this setting is the equivalent of closing your eyes and stepping on the gas, there's a huge chance it will end up badly, whereas with stop lights drivers think there is "enough time" assuming everyone else is paying attention to the rules.
This is in the US, by the way.