Passengers in England who play loud music on buses could be fined up to £100 as part of government efforts to address antisocial behaviour. These measures also aim to tackle littering, vaping, and threatening behaviour to enhance journeys across all forms of public transport.
Local authorities could issue these fines under new powers. The government has issued guidance to local authorities on these powers, which were introduced earlier this year, to help them address loud music and other antisocial behaviour on buses. These new powers allow local authorities to impose new rules on buses, but still need to be signed off by the Transport Secretary.
Bus drivers will not be responsible for enforcing these new rules; instead, authorised officers, including Transport Safety Officers and the Police, will handle incidents. Separately, a new national campaign is being launched to remind rail passengers to "share the carriage, not the noise," with the aim of improving journeys for everyone.