Laughing gas breathalyser: Hampshire police test first device that can detect nitrous oxide 'hippy crack' in drivers
Roads policing officers are testing a new type of breathalyser that can detect nitrous oxide - better known as laughing gas - in drivers’ breath
The world’s first roadside laughing gas breathalyser is being trialled by police officers in Hampshire.
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” or “chargers”.
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 to these motorists to be prosecuted for drug driving offences.”
The device, created by Respira Technologies following research at the Vrije Universteit Amsterdam, is believed to be one-of-a-kind. A user can simply breathe out into the portable device and receive a test result within minutes. Crucially, it can detect if a user has inhaled nitrous oxide up to two hours afterwards.
The forces successfully secured Test and Learn funding through the National Science and Innovation Board, part of the NPCC Science and Technology Strategy. This funding is available to ensure policing in the UK can utilise the latest advances in science and technology to improve crime prevention and detection, and provide the best service to safeguard victims. Officers across the two forces will be testing the device until 5 June.
Edcel Salumbides, Pepijn van Rutten and Carmen Sickinger, of Respira Technologies, attended to assist police during testing by the A31 near Winchester. “We’ve had a lot of enthusiasm and the devices have been working well. It’s the first time we’ve practised with the devices in the real world,” Pepijn and Carmen said.
“We are in the test and learn phase. The device is very reliable and can measure up to two hours after use. We did a lot of validations in our laboratory so we know the values are correct.”
Acting Superintendent Emma Hart, of the joint operations roads policing unit of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary and Thames Valley Police, said: “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.”
Asked about what are the dangers of using it when getting behind the wheel, Act Supt Hart said: “You can have immediate cognitive decline and if you’re driving you will have slower reaction times and possibly not be able to mitigate risk and even have a medical episode behind the wheel.”
She added: “We know that three to four per cent of 16-24 year olds will admit to using nitrous oxide in a regular basis and they will obviously drive and be on two-wheelers so it is becoming an increasing problem for us.
“We know drink and drug driving is on the increase. At the moment and until this device we couldn’t actually tell if someone was impaired through nitrous oxide unless we had some kind of video evidence. Now we can detect it in their breath which is fantastic.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones added: “It is an honour for our force to host the world-first trial of this breathalyser device and adds an important extra tool to combat dangerous drivers for our Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit.
“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 and Thames Valley Police 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.”