Crossing the road

"Turn Right, Turn Left and then Turn Right again before crossing the road". This is the recommended safest way to crossing a road.

I can't understand why we need to look at both directions, when vehicles only come from one direction. It will make more sense to look at the direction where the vehicle is coming from and cross. So the rule of crossing should be look at the directions where the cars are coming from and perhaps one glance at the other direction to satisfy our curiosity, then cross.

I think the old golden rule of right, left and then right again was created when the main transport were bicycles..