Local police forces trial 'world's first' laughing gas breathalyser
Hampshire Police and Thames Valley Police say the new device is to tackle a worrying trend around the use of laughing gas by those aged 16-25
A cutting-edge nitrous oxide breathalyser, believed to be the first of its kind in the world, is being trialled by police in Hampshire and the Thames Valley in a ground-breaking trial.
Nitrous oxide, also known as ‘laughing gas’ or NOS, is a Class C drug with offenders potentially serving up to two years in prison for possessing it for unlawful use.
Police say driving under the influence of nitrous oxide is an emerging threat to the safety of motorists on our roads, and it's use can cause unconsciousness and even neurological damage or death from suffocation of oxygen to the brain.
The breathalyser, created by Respira Technologies, works by the user breathing into the portable device, with the result coming within minutes and being able to detect whether a user has inhaled nitrous oxide for up to two hours beforehand.
"We are seeing too many incidents with major consequences"
In 2023 three teenage boys were killed when they were involved in a car crash where the driver was under the influence of laughing gas
Elliot Pullen, 17, and 18-year-olds Ethan Goddard and Daniel Hancock died when the car they were passengers in crashed into a tree alongside the A415 in Marcham, Oxfordshire
The 18-year-old driver, Thomas Johnson, was filmed inhaling laughing gas behind the wheel just moments before the crash and was driving at speeds of up to 100mph.
The Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones has told us there has been a concerning rise in use of laughing gas amongst the younger population
"There is a worrying trend around the use of laughing gas by those aged 16-25, which was previously undetectable, with drivers under the influence of nitrous oxide putting themselves and others at risk of serious injury or death.
We are seeing too many incidents with major consequences on our roads, and it is a proud moment for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary to lead the way for the rest of the country, and the rest of the world, in tackling this.
One person’s actions behind the wheel can have a devastating impact in a split second, which is why I am focused on supporting road safety projects and proactive roads policing like this, to ensure our two counties have safer roads for everyone."
Acting Superintendent Emma Hart, of the joint operations roads policing unit of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary and Thames Valley Police explains why this trial is so critical and ground breaking
“There is currently no device available that can prove a driver inhaled laughing gas, making prosecution difficult.
That is why our forces are leading this testing phase, to break new ground and prove these devices can help save lives on our roads.
Nitrous oxide is a growing issue, especially with young drivers who don’t understand the harm it can cause, so when we saw the opportunity to test this new technology, we knew how important it could be towards these devices being rolled out across the country.”