You folks in the UK seem to lack someone to bitch at. Here, if we have a problem, there is always an elected official to go at, and they respond because they want to get re elected. Sad, but it works.

Ref Steven King, walking on the wrong side of the road means you are walking WITH traffic, and therefore, unable to see what's coming up behind you.
Of course it doesn't absolve the driver of responsibility; However, if you are walking on the wrong side wearing dark clothes at night you are asking for trouble. I see it all the time, young people with their "I'm bullet proof" attitude. Children on bicycles are really bad about this. Here, a bicycle is considered a vehicle and it belongs on the right with traffic. I swear, parents don't know or care where their kids ride.