Oh, come on. According to your theory, there would be a traffic accident every 10 seconds at an intersection. Experience shows this not to be the case.

At intersections with traffic controls, cars have to stop to avoid getting hit by other cars. When I approach an intersection in my car that has a traffic light or stop sign, I expect to stop. Mid block is exactly where I don't expect to stop unless there is a crosswalk.

Think about it, 25 mph = 37 feet per second. With the 2-second rule (that when following a car maintain a following time of 2 seconds in case the car in front of you needs to panic stop) a car traveling the speed limit in a 25 mph zone requires 74 feet - 25 yards or roughly 4-5 car lengths. Stepping out into a street with a fully alert driver approaching less than 25 yards away is asking to get hit. Now as I approach a traffic light or stop sign, I am slowing down, have my foot on the brake already, and can stop within a much shorter distance (probably only 1 car length since I don't have to move my foot from the gas to the brake).

In short, expect traffic to be more likely to stop for you where traffic is expecting to stop.