I don't disagree, but unfortunately there's only so much one can do to anticipate the stupidity of the average oblivious pedestrian, and while I've had a few encounters with people crossing against the signals/traffic with earbuds in, the gross majority also seem to be members of the growing local transient population who are often fairly inebriated or generally dismissive of societal rules.

I'd say the best one can do is pay attention and follow rules that used to be taught in old safe-driving courses (but also apply to biking). I slow down a bit and am ready to brake at populated intersections even if I have the right-of-way, slow or move farther out when I see rambunctious/unattended kids on the sidewalk, and the same for drunks, transients, or areas where such congregate and are known to spontaneously bolt across the road.

Assuming somebody may demonstrate a spontaneous lack of self-preservation has saved me from running somebody down on more than one occasion, both with motor-vehicles or bikes. I also tend to give more space to BMW's, Audi's, and lifted trucks... because reasons :-)