While it's true that most accidents happen within a mile of your home (stats no doubt skewed because pretty much ALL your journeys include that mile) the most severe accidents happen on single carriage A roads with 60pmh speed limits, due to speeding and dangerous over taking.
Motorways accidents are less common and less severe (because you're all traveling in the same direction)
getting speeds down on single carriageway A roads, along with clamping down on dangerous overtaking, mobile phone use, drink driving, having a picnic at the wheel, etc would be my priority.
The number of deaths on 30mph roads is pretty much the same as those on 60 mph roads. I think it is safe to say that the number of third party deaths must be higher in 30mph limits?
FWIW I looked up the accident rates for the A420 between Oxford and Swindon, which is the road I was talking about. Whilst it is safe to say some of the cameras seem to be set on accident blackspots, a couple don't seem to be. So you are definitely mostly right there. I'd say there is still an issue with the road changing from dual carriageway to single carriageway to much. Where that happens there are always going to be idiots trying to get past the last car too near the switch to single carriageway. It strikes me that you should put the camera before the end of the dual carriageway and not half a mile down the road after it goes to single.
I'd have assumed that the fatalities would be higher at the higher speeds.
I'm fairly confident the cameras aren't placed arbitrarily, but if I'm in charge, they're going all over the place, camouflaged and even mobile, plus additional unmarked camera equipped police cars.
plus introduce penalties for discourteous driving on top of dangerous driving
Good thinking, we need middle lane cameras. Quite like the idea of ticketting anybody towing a caravan. Not sure I'd be fussed on which road they were towing it on!
Fatalities are going to be higher at higher speeds, but am sure you get more accidents in 30mph areas, so the overall fatalities is about the same. Plus more pedestrians in 30 mph areas.
I don't think the stats bear that out.
From what I can see, for numbers of accidents, numbers of serious accidents and number of fatal accidents it remains:
Rural B roads > Urban B Roads > Rural A Roads > Urban A Roads >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Motorways
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