Hampshire Constabulary and Thames Valley Police are trialling a breathalyser designed to detect the use of nitrous oxide, sometimes referred to as “laughing gas,” by drivers. The move follows reports of a rise in young people using nitrous oxide while driving, including a trend described by outlets as spreading on social media. Police say the trial involves testing whether the device can identify drivers who may have taken nitrous oxide before or while on the road. The outlets describe the breathalyser as a first-of-its-kind approach, intended to support enforcement where drug and substance impairment testing is needed. The reports do not provide figures on the number of incidents, the locations beyond the two police areas, or details on whether charges or convictions have resulted from the trial so far. The initiative is framed as an operational experiment to determine how effectively such testing can be used in real-world conditions and how it fits with existing road safety and policing measures.