Spot on.
If the lights were responsive, then the vast majority of pedestrians would wait.
These crossings are doubly dangerous as drivers do not expect anyone attempting to cross when they have the green signal, unaware that the lights are effectively and sometimes actually stuck.

This situation is no good for drivers either as many people now see little advantage in using a crossing and so make their way across at random points.

Given how badly these lights are configured, we'd all be better off with zebras.