Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleThe world's first roadside breathalyser designed to detect laughing gas (nitrous oxide) is currently undergoing trials with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary and Thames Valley Police. The device aims to address the “emerging threat” of motorists driving under the influence of nitrous oxide, which is a Class C drug whose unlawful possession can lead to a two-year prison sentence. Nitrous oxide use poses significant health risks, including unconsciousness, neurological damage, or death, and has been tragically linked to fatal road accidents. Developed by Respira Technologies, the portable breathalyser can detect nitrous oxide inhalation for up to two hours, providing results within minutes. Police forces are leading this testing phase to overcome the current challenges in prosecuting drivers for inhaling laughing gas, with the potential for wider national deployment of the technology. In fullWorld’s first laughing gas breathalyser being trialled by UK police forces in bid to combat ‘emerging threat’Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in