Police allege the 50-year-old man was driving on a disqualified licence when he returned a positive roadside breath test. 

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

The NT road toll finished at 50 deaths for 2018, a number which Katherine Police Commander Michael Hebb recently said was 'unacceptable and tragic'.

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

“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 drink driving in an unsafe car while disqualified and is due to appear in the Mataranka Local Court at a later date.

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