WITH the streets of Bradford becoming further ‘littered’ with Nitrous Oxide cannisters and the inhalation of laughing gas becoming more noticeable, T&A readers have spoken out over the issue.
There was an outpouring of anger earlier this week after 27-year-old Zamir Shah was sentenced for causing a serious accident on Cottingley Cliffe Road. The court heard he had inhaled Nitrous Oxide - often called laughing gas - shortly before the horredous smash.
Shah left his 18-year-old passenger and fled from the scene, returning later as a concerned bystander. He was sentenced to 42 months in prison, of which he will serve half, and has been banned from driving for four years and nine months.
Shah must still take the extended re-test before lawfully driving on the roads again.
Recorder of Bradford Judge Richard Mansell QC said: “To make matters worse you were inhaling NOS from a small canister and no doubt laughing and joking with your female passenger who was seriously injured in the accident that followed.
“The effects of laughing gas are such that nobody should be inhaling this stuff whilst driving let alone on a dangerous stretch of road like this as it makes users disinhibited.”
One T&A reader commented on Facebook: “The amount of people I have seen driving whilst using laughing gas is disgusting. Poor lady, I hope she has a quick recovery and put this absolute numpty behind bars and ban him from the roads.”
Elaine Lister added: "How irresponsible of him to be inhaling that then driving…he’s been in trouble before about his driving, he needs banning forever."
Christian Lambert commented: “If it's dangerous to drive whilst inhaling or under the influence of nitrous oxide...get the law changed and BAN IT!!!”
Nitrous Oxide has been a hot topic of conversation in the Bradford area. In July, Councillor Nazam Azam (Lab, City) said in a meeting: “I’m seeing people openly driving on our roads while inhaling from balloons in their mouths.
“It is something I have noticed a lot more in the last few weeks."
Lisa Robinson-Briggs commented: “When are they gunna make this gas illegal.”
John Storer added: “Streets of Bradford are littered with the empty cannisters.”
Readers also expressed their fury over the sentencing claiming it didn’t go far enough, taking the defendant’s previous convictions into account and the injuries the female passenger faced.
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