Travel on US roads fell by 39.8 per cent in April as coronavirus stay-at-home orders prompted tens of millions of Americans to work from home and others to avoid travel as destinations temporarily closed.

The US Transportation Department said US motorists drove 112 billion fewer miles compared with April 2019 to 169.6 billion vehicle miles. In the first four months of 2020, motorists drove fewer miles than in the period in any year since 2001.