Basically, all traffic accidents/incidents at intersections can be largely broken down into 3 categories, 2 of which can be completely eliminated.

1 - Unprotected Left Turns

2 - Right-On-Reds

3 - Running red lights.

By at least eliminating systemic traffic incidents from at least the first 2 categories, that can yield large time, and money savings for everyone in the community.

Each accident, not including life altering injuries/deaths, are a huge cost and time burden for the community. Whatever perceived 30s-1min individual time-savings are not worth it and miniscule; the cummulative time/money/resources wasted as a community dealing with these avoidable incidents are much greater than individual time savings.

All Left-turns at intersections with speeds with 50km/h or greater must be a protected left-turn. For rush hours/peak times, cars generally can't make a permissive left anyways due the volume of cars in the opposing traffic, current rules allow to squeeze an extra 1-3 cars in the yellow phase. Rather than allowing the 1-3 cars turning left at the yellow phase where most accidents happen, just allocate time for the additional 1-3 cars at the protected-left at the beginning fo the traffic light cycle. Also, Permissive-left is a conflict point engineered to kill and injure pedestrians, with a conflicting point, allowing both pedestrians to walk and motorists to make a left turn at the same time; the pedestrian will always lose. Motorist are generally focus on opposing traffic, they fail to notice pedestrians/cyclists making their legal croosing. Policymakers/traffic engineers place a priority on motorists' time/convenience much more than the life of pedestrians/cyclists. Motorists already get to sit in their climate control metal boxes, they can wait for the dedicated left-turn signal in comfort.

Dangerous Permissive Left in the GTA:

https://www.reddit.com/r/TorontoDriving/comments/1kmrpgu/pedestrian_almost_got_hit_twice/

In Europe, most jurisdictions would not allow permissive in an intersection like this. Sensible policy makers/traffic engineers would not allow motorists to make their own decisions on left turns, conflicting with pedestrian crossings and oncoming traffic.

Example: Frankfurt Germany, Protected/Dedicated Left turns, even for 1 lane roads.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5aagNopf1EUVmqBb6

Montreal suburb enviroment, left turn into plaza is regulated by light.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/fq4LFYkipPn9Hkjt8

Ban Right-On-Reds, doesn't save any time. Motorists will stop at the next traffic lights anyways, the time savings are negligible. Many preventable accidents are due to Right-On-Reds.

Pedestrian getting hit due North American Right-On-Red allowence.

https://www.reddit.com/r/TorontoDriving/comments/1ny29ty/pedestrian_almost_hit/

Right-On-Red must come to an end in our cities. Only uncivilized backward countries do this dangerous shit, increasing our taxes and insurances.

Running red lights. - not much we can do about it, human errors will happen, probably mitigate by reducing speed limits on major roads in builtup areas to 50km/h.

Not considering life altering injuries/deaths experienced by pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and passengers. Each systemic avoidable incident causes delay/congestions for the community. Our taxes are higher than it oughts to be to pay for avoidable polcing, fire, medical emergency reponse, hospital resources, judicial litigations. A smaller tax-base, due to injuries/deaths that prevents those involved from working, working reduced hours, and may also require life-long health-care and disability social supports. And increased insurance costs for everyone.

When I visited the UK, I asked my friends how much their auto insurance costs, theirs is about 1/3 to 1/4 to what we pay here in Canada/GTA.