Author : Dr Kate Garside
World's first nitrous oxide breathalyser trialled by UK police
UK police forces are trialling what is believed to be the world's first roadside breathalyser designed specifically to detect nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas or NOS.
The new technology could represent an important development in tackling drug driving, providing police with a way to detect a substance that has previously been difficult to identify using conventional roadside testing equipment.
West Yorkshire Police announced in October 2026 that it had joined the trial, with officers in the Bradford district testing the device to establish whether it can reliably detect nitrous oxide in a driver's breath.
The trial has expanded beyond the original two police forces and could eventually provide officers with an additional tool to investigate suspected drug-driving offences and improve road safety.
However, the implications extend beyond the roads. The development also raises important questions for employers and occupational health professionals about detecting nitrous oxide use and managing the risks of employees attending work under its influence.
What is the new nitrous oxide breathalyser?
The new device has been developed by Respira Technologies and is designed specifically to detect nitrous oxide in a breath sample.
Unlike conventional alcohol breathalysers, which measure the concentration of alcohol in a person's breath, this device measures nitrous oxide, reporting the result in parts per million (ppm).
The driver simply breathes into the portable device, which analyses the breath sample for evidence of nitrous oxide.
The technology is particularly significant because there has previously been no dedicated roadside breath-testing device available to police for detecting nitrous oxide.
Which UK police forces are taking part in the trial?
The initial trials began with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary and Thames Valley Police in May 2026.
The programme has subsequently expanded to include other police forces, including West Yorkshire Police.
West Yorkshire Police confirmed that officers in the Bradford district had spent two weeks testing the equipment.
The wider project is supported by the Office of the Police Chief Scientific Adviser and the National Police Chiefs' Council.
The research is intended to establish the accuracy, reliability and practical functionality of the technology in real roadside policing situations.
Why are UK police trialling a nitrous oxide breath test?
Nitrous oxide is a colourless gas with legitimate medical, industrial and commercial applications. However, it is also used recreationally for its short-lived intoxicating effects.
Inhaling nitrous oxide can affect judgement, coordination, reaction times and awareness. These effects can make driving extremely dangerous.
One of the challenges facing police has been the difficulty of establishing whether a driver has recently inhaled nitrous oxide. Without a suitable roadside testing device, gathering evidence to support a drug-driving investigation can be complicated.
The new breathalyser aims to address this gap by giving officers a practical way to screen for recent nitrous oxide exposure.
How does nitrous oxide affect driving ability?
Nitrous oxide is a psychoactive gas which acts on the central nervous system. When inhaled, it can produce feelings of euphoria, relaxation and altered perception.
However, it can also interfere with the mental and physical skills needed to drive safely.
The main effects include:
1. Slower reaction times
Nitrous oxide can slow the brain's ability to process information and respond to events. A driver may take longer to react to sudden braking, pedestrians, traffic lights or unexpected hazards.
Even a small delay in reaction time can have serious consequences when travelling at speed.
2. Impaired judgement and decision-making
The intoxicating effects can affect a driver's ability to assess risks and make appropriate decisions.
A driver may misjudge whether it is safe to overtake, pull out at a junction or respond to changing traffic conditions.
3. Poor coordination and vehicle control
Nitrous oxide can temporarily affect motor control, balance and coordination.
This can make it harder to steer accurately, operate pedals and maintain control of a vehicle.
4. Altered perception
Users may experience dizziness, disorientation and distorted perception of time and space.
This can affect their ability to judge distances, speeds and the position of other vehicles.
5. Drowsiness, dizziness and loss of consciousness
Nitrous oxide can cause light-headedness, fainting and, in some circumstances, loss of consciousness.
Inhaling the gas can also displace oxygen, potentially causing oxygen deprivation (hypoxia). This presents an additional risk to anyone attempting to drive after using the substance.
How long does nitrous oxide affect driving ability?
Although the immediate intoxicating effects of nitrous oxide are relatively short-lived, this does not mean it is safe to drive shortly after use.
The Government's Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) has reviewed the available evidence on the effects of nitrous oxide.
Research suggests that:
- Most behavioural, cognitive and physical effects generally return towards normal within approximately 30 minutes.
- Fatigue can occur around an hour after use.
- The duration and severity of impairment are likely to depend on the amount consumed and the circumstances of exposure.
- Research has identified impaired driving performance for up to 30 minutes following exposure.
It is important to remember that the duration of noticeable intoxicating effects does not necessarily indicate when someone is safe to drive again.
Can you be prosecuted for driving under the influence of nitrous oxide?
Yes. Under Section 4 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, it is an offence to drive or attempt to drive a vehicle when unfit to drive through drink or drugs.
This legislation applies to nitrous oxide, even though there is currently no specified legal blood concentration limit for the substance in the same way that there is for certain other controlled drugs.
A driver can therefore be prosecuted if their ability to drive is impaired by nitrous oxide.
The absence of a specific legal drug-driving limit does not mean that driving after inhaling nitrous oxide is permitted.
Is nitrous oxide a Class C drug in the UK?
Yes. Nitrous oxide was classified as a Class C controlled drug in the UK in November 2023 under changes to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
Possession is illegal where the substance is intended for wrongful inhalation, although legitimate uses, including medical, industrial and catering applications, remain permitted.
Driving under the influence of nitrous oxide can also constitute an offence under existing drug-driving legislation.
Can the new nitrous oxide breathalyser be used to prosecute drivers?
Not yet.
West Yorkshire Police has confirmed that the current trial is non-enforceable. This means the results from the trial cannot currently be used as evidence to prosecute motorists for drug-driving offences.
The purpose of the trial is to build an evidence base and establish whether the device is sufficiently accurate and reliable for potential future use.
If the technology proves successful and meets the necessary evidential and legal requirements, it could eventually help police investigate and prosecute drivers suspected of driving under the influence of nitrous oxide.
This would be a significant development in roadside drug testing in the UK.
How does nitrous oxide testing differ from an alcohol breathalyser?
Although both devices involve analysing a breath sample, they are designed to detect different substances.
An alcohol breathalyser measures alcohol (ethanol) in the breath to estimate the concentration of alcohol in a person's system.
The new nitrous oxide breathalyser measures nitrous oxide in a breath sample, reporting the result in parts per million.
It is therefore not an alcohol breathalyser adapted for drug testing, but a purpose-designed device for detecting a different substance.
How prevalent is nitrous oxide use in the UK?
Although nitrous oxide use has attracted considerable media attention in recent years, how widespread is recreational use in the UK?
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) provides an indication through its Crime Survey for England and Wales.
According to figures for the year ending March 2025:
- 0.5% of people aged 16 to 59 reported using nitrous oxide in the previous 12 months.
- Among younger people aged 16 to 24, the figure was 1.3%.
- This represented a decrease from the previous year, when 0.9% of people aged 16 to 59 and 3.3% of those aged 16 to 24 reported using the substance.
The figures suggest that recreational nitrous oxide use has declined, particularly among younger people.
However, it remains a substance of concern because of its potential effects on judgement, coordination and reaction times.
It is important to remember that these figures relate to self-reported recreational use across the general population of England and Wales. They do not measure use within the workplace or establish how many people attend work while impaired.
Nevertheless, the potential implications for employers, particularly those operating in safety-critical industries, should not be overlooked.
What are the implications for workplace drug testing?
The development of a roadside nitrous oxide breathalyser raises an important question for employers: could this technology eventually have a role in workplace drug and alcohol testing?
Nitrous oxide presents particular challenges for occupational health professionals and employers because it is not routinely included in standard workplace drug screening panels.
Unlike substances such as cannabis, cocaine and amphetamines, nitrous oxide has a very short duration in the body. It is rapidly eliminated through the lungs after inhalation, making conventional saliva and urine testing difficult.
This creates a potential gap in workplace drug testing, particularly where employers have a responsibility to ensure that employees are fit to carry out safety-critical duties.
Which workplaces could be affected?
Although recreational nitrous oxide use is not necessarily a workplace issue, the effects of recent use could have serious consequences if someone attends work while impaired.
This is particularly relevant in occupations where concentration, coordination and rapid decision-making are essential, including:
- Transport and logistics, including HGV and delivery drivers.
- Construction and engineering.
- Manufacturing and industrial operations.
- Warehousing and forklift truck operations.
- Plant and machinery operators.
- Emergency services and other safety-critical occupations.
An employee who has recently inhaled nitrous oxide could experience impaired judgement, slower reaction times, dizziness or poor coordination. These effects could increase the risk of workplace accidents and injuries.
Can standard workplace drug tests detect nitrous oxide?
Currently, nitrous oxide is not routinely included in any standard workplace urine drug testing panels or oral drug tests.
This is largely because of its rapid elimination from the body, which makes conventional testing methods unsuitable for reliably identifying recent use.
Specialist laboratory methods can investigate nitrous oxide exposure, but sample collection, preservation and timing are particularly important. These methods are not equivalent to routine workplace drug screening.
The development of the new roadside breathalyser could therefore be significant. If the technology proves reliable and becomes more widely available, it may eventually provide another option for identifying recent nitrous oxide exposure.
However, the current police trial is still evaluating the technology. It should not be regarded as an approved workplace drug-testing method at this stage.
What should employers do?
Employers with workplace drug and alcohol policies should consider whether nitrous oxide needs to be addressed within their existing procedures.
This is particularly important for organisations employing people in safety-critical roles.
Practical steps include:
- Ensuring workplace drug and alcohol policies cover impairment from all psychoactive substances, including nitrous oxide.
- Providing employees with information about the potential effects of recreational nitrous oxide use.
- Training managers and supervisors to recognise possible signs of impairment.
- Having clear procedures for removing employees from safety-critical duties if there are reasonable concerns about their fitness to work.
- Seeking advice from occupational health professionals where drug use or impairment is suspected.
Employers should not rely solely on a negative result from a standard workplace drug test to establish that an employee is fit for work. A drug test can only detect the substances included in the testing panel and within the relevant detection window.
The development of new detection technology may eventually help address some of these challenges, but prevention, education and appropriate workplace procedures remain essential.
Workplace tests for other drugs and alcohol
The products below do not detect nitrous oxide, but they can support a wider workplace testing programme:
- Urine Multi Drug Cup (ALLTEST): an all-in-one cup available in combinations of 7 to 17 drugs.
- Saliva Multi Drug Midstream (ALLTEST): a direct oral test available in 4 to 7 drug combinations.
- AL7000 Digital Breathalyser: a digital alcohol breath tester for workplace use.
- Urine Lab Confirmation Pack and Saliva Lab Confirmation Pack: laboratory confirmation for non-negative screening results.
- Drug Test Training: a one-hour live online training session.
Browse all workplace drug tests.
A real-life case of nitrous oxide drug driving
The dangers of nitrous oxide and driving are not simply theoretical.
Greater Manchester Police reported a case in May 2025 involving a woman who inhaled nitrous oxide from a balloon while driving and subsequently struck a pedestrian, causing serious injuries.
She was sentenced to 20 months in custody for offences including driving under the influence of drugs and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
The case illustrates the potentially devastating consequences of driving after inhaling nitrous oxide and why improved detection methods are being investigated.
The future of roadside and workplace drug testing
The development of a dedicated nitrous oxide breathalyser highlights how drug detection technology continues to evolve.
Police already use roadside screening devices to detect certain controlled drugs, including cannabis and cocaine. However, different substances require different testing methods, and there has been a gap in the technology available for detecting nitrous oxide.
The new trial could help address this gap, potentially giving police another means of identifying drivers who may be putting themselves and other road users at risk.
For organisations involved in workplace drug and alcohol testing, occupational health and road safety, the development is also an important reminder of the need to keep up to date with advances in drug detection technology.
Although reported recreational use has declined, nitrous oxide remains relevant to workplace safety because of its potential to impair performance and the difficulties associated with detecting recent use through conventional testing methods.
As the trials progress, further research will be needed to establish the performance of the new device and whether it can be introduced as an evidential tool in future drug-driving investigations or adapted for occupational health and workplace testing.
Need more choice? Visit our specialist site, UK Drug Testing
The kits above are the ones I recommend most often for workplace drug and alcohol screening. If you are building a full workplace testing programme, though, you may want a wider choice. Our specialist sister site, UK Drug Testing, stocks a much larger range for employers and testing professionals.
Over there you will find:
- Dual chamber split cup urine drug tests, plus saliva drug tests from 4 to 13 panels
- Breathalysers
- Workplace drug and alcohol testing starter packs
- Laboratory confirmation tests
- Online drug test training
Not sure which test is right for your workplace? Take the quick quiz for a recommendation, or speak to the UK Drug Testing team Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm, on 01263 731 168.
References and further reading
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West Yorkshire Police – World's First Nitrous Oxide Breathalyser Trial (October 2026)
https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/news-appeals/west-yorkshire-police-trials-worlds-first-nitrous-oxide-breathalyser-test -
Yorkshire Evening Post – West Yorkshire Police Trials World's First Nitrous Oxide Breathalyser Test
https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/crime/west-yorkshire-police-trials-worlds-first-nitrous-oxide-breathalyser-test-9282136 -
Science and Technology in Policing – Nitrous Oxide Breathalyser Trial (May 2026)
https://science.police.uk/news-and-events/news/world-first-nitrous-oxide-breathalyser-trial-launched/ -
Office for National Statistics – Drug Misuse in England and Wales, Year Ending March 2025
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/articles/drugmisuseinenglandandwales/yearendingmarch2025 -
Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs – Nitrous Oxide: Updated Harms Assessment
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nitrous-oxide-updated-harms-assessment -
Home Office – Control of Nitrous Oxide under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Circular 006/2023)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/circular-0062023-control-of-nitrous-oxide-under-the-misuse-of-drugs-act-1971 -
Road Traffic Act 1988 – Section 4: Driving When Under the Influence of Drink or Drugs
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/section/4