Motorists stayed away from two of the North East's busiest roads during the coronavirus lockdown.
Cars and lorries were on the A1 near Chester-le-Street and A19 near Sunderland but the normally-busy commuter routes were quieter than a typical Thursday morning.
The Government has warned there has been a “concerning” rise in the number of journeys being made in the UK in recent days - despite strict rules on travel.
But Durham Constabulary says there has been a 60% decrease in the number of vehicles on the roads in the county.
A force spokeswoman said: “It’s clear that an overwhelming majority of you are supporting us by following the government advice and staying at home.
“We want to say a huge thank you to you all for pulling together and doing your bit to protect the most vulnerable. This won’t last forever.
“But for now, we must continue to ride out the storm and do everything we can to help ensure that our amazing NHS colleagues can continue their life-saving work.”
Calls have been renewed to the British public to stay home and travel only for essential journeys during the coronavirus lockdown.
Statistics by the Department for Transport revealed the number of vehicles on the roads surged by 10% between Sunday and Monday.
During the lockdown, UK residents are only allowed to leave their homes for an essential reason, and that includes those who own cars.
Residents are only allowed to leave their homes for shopping for basic necessities, one form of exercise a day, any medical need, and travelling to and from work.
Travelling for work should only be done where absolutely necessary and if it cannot be done from home.
The measures were put in place on March 23 and will be reviewed after three weeks.
It is hoped the restrictions will lead to a drop in coronavirus cases and deaths, meaning the measures can be eased rather than further ones imposed.
