Drivers now being breathalysed for 'laughing gas' amid growing Snapchat trend of youngsters getting behind the wheel high on nitrous oxide

By ANDY DOLAN, GENERAL REPORTER Published: 00:02, 14 May 2026 | Updated: 00:02, 14 May 2026 Police are trialling the world's first 'laughing gas' breathalyser in a bid to cut down on dangerous young drivers inhaling the drug behind the wheel as part of a new Snapchat trend. Two police forces tested out new roadside equipment that allows officers to check if drivers have been using nitrous oxide, known as NOS or laughing gas. The device works in a similar fashion to a typical breathalyser, which measures alcohol intoxication, and can detect nitrous oxide for up to two hours after its inhalation. Hampshire Constabulary and Thames Valley Police are trialling the kit following a sharp increase in youngsters abusing nitrous oxide while driving and then posting reckless videos on Snapchat. In June 2023, Thomas Johnson, then 18, killed three of his young passengers while driving at high speeds and inhaling NOS. The Class C drug, sometimes called 'hippy crack', makes the user feel briefly relaxed, euphoric and giggly when inhaled and has become increasingly popular amongst youths and young adults - with figures showing it is the third most popular drug after cannabis and cocaine. The drug limits perception and has been responsible for crashes and even deaths for teenagers in the country, who 'don't really understand how impaired' it makes them. Prosecution has always proved difficult for the offence because the drug is so hard to detect, so police have previously relied on video evidence or spotting it on patrols. Hampshire officers demonstrate how the equipment works during roadside trials The device has a screen, similar to those used by police to test suspected drink-drivers ThomasJohnson was jailed for nine years and four months after pleading guilty to three counts of causing death by dangerous driving A common method of taking the drug is putting it in a balloon and inhaling it. Police lament that youngsters abusing NOS while driving has 'become a trend where often they will post videos of them driving with it on Snapchat'. But the development of the new breathalyser test means that police will be able to detect the drug's use for up to two hours after its inhalation. The new one-of-a-kind test, created by Respira Technologies following research at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, is being trialled by the Hampshire Constabulary and Thames Valley Police.   The two forces run a joint Roads Policing Unit. It functions similarly to an alcohol breathalyser where users breathe into it and receive a result within minutes. In December 2024, Johnson was jailed for nine years and four months after pleading guilty to three counts of causing death by dangerous driving. Oxford Crown Court heard his passengers Elliot Pullen, 17, and friends Ethan Goddard and Daniel Hancock, both 18, were all killed when Johnson crashed into a tree after reaching speeds of up to 100mph.  Videos showed Johnson using NOS while behind the wheel.  Ethan Goddard was one of three teenagers killed after Johnson inhaled laughing gas at the wheel Johnson, then 18, behind the wheel using laughing gas before he crashed, killing three passengers in June 2023 And earlier this month, driver Mohammed Ahmed was jailed for causing a four-vehicle crash after inhaling laughing gas at the wheel. Hamilton Sheriff Court heard the 21-year-old, of Rutherglen, Lanarkshire, was travelling with three teenage girls when he pulled out a balloon filled with nitrous oxide. He later failed to slow down at a roundabout and hit the rear of a car - forcing both vehicles into the path of a bus before Ahmed's car landed on the roof of another vehicle in August 2023. Emma Hart, acting superintendent for roads policing in Hampshire & Isle of Wight and Thames Valley, has been in roads policing for three years and acting superintendent since January. 'Three to four per cent of 16 to 24 year olds admit regularly using nitrous oxide and that is now translating to the road', A/Supt Hart said. Police officers conducting tests with the new breathalyser 'It's become a trend where often they will post videos of them driving with it on Snapchat and that's how our officers know it's happened. 'Officers have noticed a big increase in these cases. It's usually obvious because it's taken using a balloon so it's easy to spot. 'These drivers don't really understand how impaired they are because the effects of nitrous oxide are over so quickly, but for that time, even just a few seconds, oxygen cuts off to the brain and they can't see incoming obstacles. 'They have medical episodes behind the wheel.' A/Supt Hart explained how dangerous the drug can be for drivers. She said: 'But now we will be able to tell for up to two hours after someone has taken it, and that technology has just not existed before. '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. '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. 'It's an extremely important technological innovation and we are at the forefront of this cutting-edge research for the benefit of all UK policing.' Nitrous oxide is used legitimately in medical, industrial and catering sectors and is a staple of commercial kitchens, mostly used to whip cream. But heavy recreational use can result in serious health harms such as neurological damage. The government banned sales for recreational use in 2016. In 2023, following anecdotal reports of an increase in social harms such as drug driving and the littering of discarded metal cannisters, the government also made possession, where a person intends to wrongfully inhale it for a psychoactive effect, a criminal offence. Repeat serious users facing up to two years in prison and dealers up to 14 years, while unlimited fines, community punishments or a caution are also potential penalties. In England and Wales, use of nitrous oxide decreased in the year to April 2025 compared with the previous 12 months.  According to the latest Office of National Statistics figures, use among those aged 16 to 59 years fell from 0.9 per cent to 0.5 per cent in 2024/25, while just 1.3 per cent of the population between 16-24 used the drug, compared to 3.3 per cent the previous year.  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. 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