Measuring is knowing
Nitrous oxide use has an adverse effect on driving skills. TNO, among others, has proven this, although that in itself is no surprise. What is more interesting is that the use of nitrous oxide appears to be measurable for at least an hour later. That could help with enforcement.
Anyone who currently uses nitrous oxide in traffic can at most be caught doing so, for example due to the presence of nitrous oxide cylinders in the vehicle. This makes enforcement difficult, because it is sometimes simply difficult to prove. This may change, according to research by TNO and LUMC in collaboration with Maastricht University. The presence of nitrous oxide can be detected in breath and blood for at least an hour after use.
Naturally, as a result of this research, the police are working on a measuring instrument: “This research offers a starting point for developing a measuring instrument in the future that will allow us to enforce the use of nitrous oxide in traffic even better,” says Willem Woelders, portfolio holder for drugs at the police. .
More research is also needed to determine where the limit value lies above which the influence on driving skills is too great. The police now state that ‘the initial high immediately after recreational nitrous oxide use is incompatible with responsible traffic participation.’ It must therefore probably be determined when (despite the presence of laughing gas in blood or breath) this ‘intoxication’ is no longer present.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl