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UK Trials World’s First Laughing Gas Breathalyser
Police forces in the south of England are trialling what is believed to be the world’s first roadside breathalyser capable of detecting nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. The new technology is being introduced as authorities attempt to tackle the growing problem of drug-driving linked to the Class C substance.
The pioneering device is currently being tested by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary and Thames Valley Police. Officers hope the equipment will help close a major gap in current road safety enforcement, as police have previously struggled to prove when drivers had recently inhaled nitrous oxide.
The portable breathalyser was developed by Respira Technologies following research carried out at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. According to reports, the device can detect whether someone has inhaled laughing gas within the previous two hours and delivers results within minutes at the roadside.
Police say the technology is aimed at combating what they describe as an “emerging threat” on British roads. Nitrous oxide can create short bursts of euphoria and dizziness, but officers warn it can also impair judgement, reaction times and concentration while driving.
The trial follows several high-profile fatal crashes linked to drivers using laughing gas. One of the most serious incidents occurred in Oxfordshire in 2023, when three teenagers died after the driver of the vehicle was filmed inhaling nitrous oxide moments before crashing into a tree at high speed.
Acting Superintendent Emma Hart from the joint roads policing unit said there is currently no reliable roadside device available to prove a driver recently inhaled laughing gas, making prosecutions difficult. She described the trial as an important step towards improving road safety and potentially rolling out the technology across the UK in the future.
Nitrous oxide was reclassified as a Class C drug in the UK in 2023, with unlawful possession carrying a possible prison sentence of up to two years. Authorities believe the new breathalyser could become a significant tool in reducing dangerous driving incidents involving the drug.
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