Toptobottom,
Next time you go SFH, request flight-following... and you'll get relevant info on those 20 other helicopters or so out there.
If you only have a Foreign License Validation based on your UK license, then you're only allowed to fly within the limitations on your UK license. If you obtain a FAA Private Pilot license, then the limitations will be diffrent.
All the regs in the world would not prevent accident from happening from time to time, unless a total BAN of flying. It's a way to hasty reaction, to call for stricter regulations, just cause an accident happen. We still don't know WHY this happened, and before we know, lets wait until we know more before discussing the regs.