Bus passengers in England who play loud music could face £100 fines under new council powers. A fair crackdown on antisocial behaviour, or unenforceable?
The powers also cover littering, vaping and threatening behaviour, and still need the transport secretary's sign-off. Bus drivers won't enforce them; transport safety officers and police will. On trains, refusing to stop playing music aloud can already bring a fine of up to £1,000.
What happened
On 19 October the government said passengers who play loud music on buses in England could be fined up to £100, using powers councils were given earlier this year. Councils can set rules on loud music, littering, vaping and threatening behaviour, though each still needs the transport secretary's sign-off. Bus drivers won't enforce them; transport safety officers and police will. Playing music aloud on trains has been against the law since 2005, and a national rail campaign, "share the carriage, not the noise", will remind passengers.
Why people disagree
Supporters say phones blaring on buses spoil journeys and put people off public transport. Ofcom, YouGov and TfL polls show most people dislike it, and Transport Focus says four in 10 passengers feel vulnerable because of antisocial behaviour. Critics, including transport campaigners, a union and opposition parties, ask who will enforce it on a bus with a lone driver, and say violence and assaults on staff matter more than noise.
What's still unclear
How many councils will adopt the powers, and whether enough transport safety officers will be funded to enforce them. It's also unclear how often fines will be issued, since TfL says most people stop when asked.
Sources
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