World’s first laughing gas breathalyser being trialled by two UK police forces

The world’s first roadside laughing gas breathalyser is being trialled by two police forces in the south of England.

The device is being tested by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary and Thames Valley Police for what they describe as the “emerging threat” of drivers taking to their vehicles while high on nitrous oxide, referred to as NOS and also known as “hippy crack”.

Possession of the class C drug for unlawful use can lead to a prison sentence of up to two years.

A spokesman for the forces said: “Driving under the influence of nitrous oxide is an emerging threat to the safety of motorists on our roads.

“Its use can cause unconsciousness and even neurological damage or death from suffocation of the oxygen supply to the brain.

“Tragically, our officers have already seen deaths connected to drivers who were under the influence of NOS.

“The innovative device is being tested by our officers to see if it can be used to detect if a driver is under the influence of this harmful drug.

“If successful, this could lead these motorists to be prosecuted for drug driving offences.”

The breathalyser, created by Respira Technologies following research at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, works by the user breathing into the portable device, with the result coming within minutes.

It can detect whether a user has inhaled nitrous oxide for up to two hours beforehand.

Published: 14/05/2026 by Radio NewsHub