In a groundbreaking move, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police alongside Thames Valley Police (TVP) are trialling the world’s first roadside breathalyser specifically designed to detect nitrous oxide—or laughing gas—use among motorists. This innovative device addresses what authorities describe as an “emerging threat” on the roads: drivers impaired by laughing gas.
According to a joint statement, inhaling nitrous oxide can cause unconsciousness, neurological damage, and in severe cases, death due to oxygen deprivation in the brain. Sadly, police forces have already encountered fatalities linked to drivers under the influence of nitrous oxide.
Superintendent Emma Hart of the joint roads policing unit explained the importance of the trial: “We are seeing an increase in nitrous oxide use, particularly among young people. To mitigate the risks, we need to understand the problem better. This device allows us to do just that.” Currently, no testing method exists that can definitively prove when a driver has inhaled laughing gas, making prosecutions difficult. These pilot tests aim to change that by demonstrating the device’s effectiveness in saving lives.
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Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones emphasized the urgency of tackling this issue: “There is a worrying rise in laughing gas use among 16- to 25-year-olds, a substance that was previously undetectable by law enforcement. Drivers under its influence endanger themselves and others, often with severe consequences.” She added that leading this initiative is a proud moment for the region and a model for the rest of the country and the world in combating the dangers of nitrous oxide on the roads.