Looking for a French friend to tell me the real deal

Looking for a French friend to tell me the real deal—do you actually not check traffic lights when crossing the street?

Actual Situation

• Most French people follow traffic light rules on main roads and busy intersections, especially in areas with surveillance cameras or traffic police.

• In certain scenarios (such as small streets or when no vehicles are passing), a few people may cross the road quickly, ignoring the red light.

• In large cities like Paris with heavy pedestrian traffic, the overall rate of abiding by traffic rules is relatively high, while it may be more relaxed in small and medium-sized cities or rural areas.

Underlying Reasons

• At some small intersections, traffic lights have short intervals, or drivers have a strong awareness of yielding to pedestrians, leading some pedestrians to form the habit of "not strictly waiting for the light".

• Young people or those in a hurry may be more inclined to cross the road by flexibly judging road conditions rather than strictly adhering to the red light.