Mataranka Police have charged a 50-year-old man with driving offences after he returned a positive roadside breath test in the early hours of this morning.

At the time, the man and his 56-year-old passenger were heading east along the Roper Highway before they were stopped 30 kilometres from Mataranka.

“Northern Territory Police have been working hard to educate people about the dangers of drinking and driving,” Remote Sergeant Thomas Chalk said.

“We know that alcohol is a factor in a lot of crashes, and that the environmental conditions, such as the time of night, available light and the condition of the road are also an issue.

“We’re glad to see that our officers were able to stop the driver before he injured himself, his female passenger or another member of the public, but it’s disappointing to see motorists continuing to put their lives and the lives of others at risk.

“We’ve already seen one fatality this year, and we’re asking the community to help us work towards zero deaths or serious injuries on our roads.”

The 50-year-old man has been charged with:

• 1 x mid-range drink driving
• 1 x drive unsafe motor vehicle
• 1 x drive while disqualified

He is due to appear in the Mataranka Local Court at a later date.