Traffic Safety Institute Vias pleads for the introduction of controls for nitrous oxide – the so-called ‘laughing gas’ – on the road. The drug has gained popularity in recent years, especially among young people.

It gives users a buzz similar to that of alcohol and can have a severe influence on one’s driving abilities, so it is dangerous and should be avoided in traffic. The same phenomenon is seen in the Netherlands. Between 2019 and 2022, the Dutch police recorded around 700 fatal accidents, or with seriously injured people, in which laughing gas played a role.

Dutch study

A new Dutch study by the Maastricht University, Leiden University Medical Center, and the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research has shown that apparent effects on driving skills are observed for at least 45 minutes after inhalation.

The good news is that it is notably possible to detect its presence in motorists using a breath test. The drug law now only needs to be amended so that laughing gas is equated with other drugs in traffic.

Effects of nitrous oxide

Inhaling nitrous gas immediately creates a short-lived euphoric intoxication comparable to the effects of alcohol. Dizziness, nausea, disorientation in time and place, decreased responsiveness, and a general feeling of being drunk are common symptoms.

Nitrous oxide, like most drugs, is addictive and influences people’s brains. When used frequently, it can cause mood swings, depression, anemia, and damage to the nervous system. The higher the dose, the more powerful the effects, especially when combined with other narcotics.

Complete ban

Last year, the Belgian traffic safety institute Vias and the Poison Control Center already pleaded for a complete ban on nitrous oxide, following the Dutch example.

On December 15th last year, the Federal Council of Ministers approved the ban on possessing, selling, and transporting nitrous oxide. Parliament still has to vote on it, but expectations are that the ban will come into effect in Belgium around mid-March. So, in the future, anyone caught with laughing gas for private use will receive a fine of 200 euros, and recidivism will be severely punished.