By KLTV Newsdesk –
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) partnered with Bradford City Council, West Yorkshire Police, and Yorkshire Ambulance for an event at Centenary Square in Bradford on Sunday to highlight the dangers of taking nitrous oxide while behind the wheel.
They were joined by Bradford New Direction, Change Grow Live, as they demonstrated the risks of taking nitrous oxide while driving.
Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, is becoming increasingly popular among young people.
However, the gas has been linked to life-threatening health complications and can significantly impair a person’s ability to drive safely.
‘Concerns’
Cllr Alex Ross Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning, and Transport, expressed his concerns about this trend and emphasized the importance of raising awareness about drug driving.
He added: “Working with our partners, we are all aiming to make our roads safer for all road users and are committed to the Vision Zero ambition.”
‘life-threatening’
Assistant District Commander Imran Ali at WYFRS also expressed his concerns about the recreational use of nitrous oxide across West Yorkshire, stating that “taking it while driving can be life-threatening – not just for the driver but their passengers and other road users.”
Nitrous oxide can have a severe impact on a driver’s coordination, reflexes, and judgment.
Larger effort
The event was part of a larger effort to make the roads of Bradford District safer under the Vision Zero strategy, which aims to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for all road users.
Yorkshire Police Sergeant Jamie Wilkinson of Steerside Enforcement Team in Bradford District added: “We hope it hammers home how seriously we all take the use of nitrous oxide and the dangerous consequences it has for people in our communities.”
The event served as a stark reminder of the importance of not using nitrous oxide while driving and the potentially deadly consequences that can result from doing so.