A terrible tragedy shook Lille on the night of November 1st. A 19-year-old student lost his life, struck down by a fleeing motorist, suspected of having consumed nitrous oxide. A new campaign was launched on October 24, 2025 by the VINCI Autoroutes Foundation to remind people of the dangers of this scourge which is affecting more and more young drivers.
A new drama under the effect of nitrous oxide
The accident occurred in the city center, around five in the morning, when a 31-year-old driver refused to comply with a police check before violently hitting the young man on a pedestrian crossing. According to Clément Coasne, delegate of the Police Unit union, “Police officers noticed a driver speeding. When they arrived at this individual, they realized that he was consuming nitrous oxide.“. The suspect, arrested shortly after the incident, was indicted for road homicide and refusal to comply.
Alarming figures, and young people on the front line
The case has rekindled the debate on the misuse of nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas. This product, originally used in anesthesia or in the food industry, has become in a few years a social phenomenon, popular with young people for its short-lasting euphoric effects. But this apparent lightness conceals a serious risk: neurological disorders, loss of coordination, sometimes fatal accidents.
According to an Ipsos survey carried out for the VINCI Autoroutes Foundation, “1 in 10 young people under 35 have already consumed nitrous oxide during an evening with friends” And “among them, 1 in 2 took it while driving“. The figures are alarming: “7% of those under 35 have already been passengers in a car whose driver had taken nitrous oxide“More worrying still,”10% of young people aged 16 to 24 consider that taking nitrous oxide while driving is not dangerous” And “11% think that being a passenger of a drinking driver is not risky“.
For Bernadette Moreau, general delegate of the VINCI Autoroutes Foundation, “Faced with the growing volume of nitrous oxide canisters found at the side of roads or on motorway rest areas, it is urgent to alert the general public, and young people in particular, of the dangers of inhaling this gas which is not at all hilarious.“.
What to do in case of nitrous oxide poisoning or dependence?
The effects of nitrous oxide are not limited to a simple loss of alertness. Inhaled regularly, it can cause serious neurological disorders, loss of balance, difficulty walking, or even paraplegia.
In the event of poisoning, it is recommended to immediately consult a doctor or call the poison control center on 01 45 42 59 59. If the person experiences respiratory problems, discomfort or loss of consciousness, the emergency numbers (112, 15 or 17) should be contacted immediately. Pregnant women are also advised to avoid any exposure to this gas, which is dangerous for the fetus.
When an addiction sets in, seeking help from a healthcare professional is essential. Addiction care, support and prevention centers (CSAPA) can offer appropriate follow-up, as can young consumer consultations (CJC) for those under 25. Drugs info service (0 800 23 13 13) or the site http://www.drogues-info-service.fr also remains an available and free contact, 7 days a week.
A national campaign to break the fake laughter of the proto
Faced with the multiplication of tragedies and the trivialization of the “proto”, the VINCI Autoroutes Foundation launched an awareness campaign on October 24, 2025 entitled “Nitrous oxide: nothing hilarious”. The clip, broadcast on social networks and on motorway rest areas, first shows faces in full laughter before revealing the tragic reality behind these scenes: accidents, hospitalizations, paralysis.
Objective: to raise collective awareness. On the ground, the Foundation has joined forces with the Protoside association to meet families and young travelers. Guillaume Grzych, president of the Protoside network and lecturer at Lille University Hospital, warns: “The results of this survey confirm what we observe on the ground. This public health problem is largely underestimated by current reporting systems via emergency services. We need to prevent better, detect earlier and deploy concrete actions“.
This drama in Lille tragically illustrates the drift of a festive gas that has become a silent poison. Behind the laughter, it is a health emergency that the authorities and associations are now trying to make heard.