The sentiment is fine but the likelihood of rear end shunts as a turning car suddenly stops is very high. Roundabouts are bad enough, as soon as a car starts to move the following car tends to react as though they are going to continue. If a car turning from a junction suddenly stops for something which the following vehicle possibly cannot see it could end up badly.
I'll have to remember to be extra vigilant come January 29th.
I have to say I feel slightly uncomfortable about this change. I'm all for peds and cyclists being safer on the roads, but that's very often down to their decision making. I can see some possible entrapment going on too, could be an easy way for plod to meet some booking targets (of course they don't exist, we keep being told they don't, must be true.....).
Potentially a free-for-all for the cash for crash brigade too, all they need is a stooge pedestrian standing at a suitable junction and bingo.