My two cents (as a former police officer)...
The issue of left turn on red (or right turn in other countries) is solved simply by enforcing that vehicles give way to pedestrians when turning into a road. However giving pedestrians universal right-of-way creates its own set of problems, for example, if the pedestrian is crossing in a place they shouldn't be. In situations like that where there is a collisions involving a pedestrian, the person crossing in the wrong place/wrong time could be deemed at fault.
In Australia, the road rules are a standard set of rules which apply to the entire country, there are some exceptions though where states have implemented their own additional rules to cater for special circumstances (in Victoria, they have the "hook turn" which is essentially turning right from the left lane).
There is a road rule which applies specifically to pedestrians which states "A pedestrian must not cause a traffic hazard by moving into the path of a driver or unreasonably obstruct the path of a driver".
A prime example of that was a collision that I investigated years ago where a pedestrian stepped out onto the roadway, at a set of traffic lights with a pedestrian crossing, but against the red "don't walk" signal. Thankfully she only suffered minor injuries, but I did issue the pedestrian an infringement notice. The driver was not liable for any costs.
Drivers do have responsibilities and need to take care, especially around crossings and intersections, but they aren't liable for people's stupidity in other circumstances.