Dubai/ Sharjah, Dec 27(The National): There were 142 deaths on Dubai's roads from January to November this year, a 7.5 per cent drop from the 225 in the same period in 2009, according to Dubai Traffic Department figures published by WAM, the state news agency.

The figures also showed that there were 161 serious injuries, 509 moderate injuries, and 1,311 minor injuries during the 11-month period.

Maj Omar Moussa Ashour, the director of Accidents Survey at Dubai Traffic, said the fall in fatal accidents was due to "coordinated efforts of the department in cooperation with other authorities", WAM reported.

In Sharjah, road deaths also fell, by 10 per cent, from last year to 139, the emirate's police director general revealed yesterday. Maj Gen Humaid al Hudaidi said a traffic safety programme resulted in more than 6,600 tickets being handed out in just one week, and that the intensified police focus had helped to bring down road deaths.

There was an increase in car thefts, however, with about 50 cars being stolen compared with fewer than 30 in some previous years. Many of the vehicles were exported through the use of false certification, and authorities plan to concentrate on the problem next year.

Police arrested almost 30 car thieves in October and another 30 in July as they cracked down on a suspected network exporting the vehicles.

On the positive side, street vending and begging had almost been completely eradicated in the emirate after a successful campaign, Maj Gen al Hudaidi said.

There was more good news for Sharjah when figures revealed that the number of crimes this year was expected to be half of the 21,000 reported in 2009. Although no official crime records are yet available, full statistics would be announced next month.

The ability to fight crime was improved by the five police stations opened this year.

The department's work was not unrecognised as it received 13 of the 23 best-performance awards given out by the Ministry of Interior.