World-First ‘Laughing Gas’ Breathalyser Trial Launched By Hampshire And Thames Valley Police
World-First ‘Laughing Gas’ Breathalyser Trial Launched By Hampshire And Thames Valley Police
A world-first breathalyser designed to detect nitrous oxide use in drivers is being trialled by police in Hampshire and the Thames Valley.
The cutting-edge device, believed to be the first of its kind, is being tested by officers to see whether it can help identify motorists who have recently inhaled nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas or NOS.
If successful, the technology could help police prosecute drivers suspected of being under the influence of the drug.
Nitrous oxide is a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, with offenders facing up to two years in prison for possessing it for unlawful use.
Police say driving after inhaling nitrous oxide is an emerging road safety threat. The drug can cause unconsciousness and serious health effects, including neurological damage or death through suffocation caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain.
Officers have already dealt with fatal collisions linked to drivers under the influence of NOS.
One case involved the deaths of three teenagers in Oxfordshire in 2023, when a car crashed into a tree on the A415 in Marcham.
The 18-year-old driver, Thomas Johnson, had been filmed inhaling laughing gas behind the wheel moments before the crash.
He was travelling at speeds of up to 100mph before the collision, which killed passengers Ethan Goddard, Daniel Hancock, both 18, and Elliot Pullen, 17.
Acting Superintendent Emma Hart, from the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary and Thames Valley Police, said there is currently no device available that can prove a driver has inhaled laughing gas, making prosecutions difficult.
She said the forces are leading the testing phase to help prove whether the technology can save lives on the roads.
The portable breathalyser has been created by Respira Technologies following research at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. A user breathes into the device, which can provide a result within minutes.
Crucially, police say it can detect whether someone has inhaled nitrous oxide up to two hours afterwards.
The trial has been funded through Test and Learn funding from the National Science and Innovation Board, part of the NPCC Science and Technology Strategy.
Officers across Hampshire and the Thames Valley will be testing the device until 5 June.
Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones said it was an honour for the force to host the world-first trial, adding that the device could become an important tool in tackling dangerous drivers.
She said there is a worrying trend around laughing gas use among people aged 16 to 25, with drivers under the influence putting themselves and others at risk of serious injury or death.
The trial could pave the way for the devices to be rolled out more widely across UK policing if successful.
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Posted: 2026-05-14T10:10:51+0000
