they are realistic, just depends on what city you live in, Ive lived all over the country, some places have them some dont. In real life I like it better when they do have them, in cities without them people tend to just drive down the middle lane like it is a lane. In St. Pete FL there are places to cross other then at major intersections every so often there will be a turn in lane with an opening in the median and its up to you to cross there without a light, the cross streets have stop signs. It was a rarity to have traffic backed up at any of those turn ins, certain ones would every now and then.
