"It's so loud, put your headphones on"... UK cracks down on public transport nuisances with fines of up to £100

UK Mulls Fines of Up to £100 for “Loudcasting” on Buses
Littering and E-Cigarette Use Also Targeted in Crackdown

Enforcement will be stepped up in the United Kingdom against behavior that inconveniences other passengers on public transportation, including playing music or videos loudly, using e-cigarettes, and littering.

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According to the BBC on October 19, local time, the UK government is seeking to impose fines of up to £100 (about 180,000 won) on passengers who play music or videos loudly on buses without headphones, disturbing those around them. Littering, using e-cigarettes, and threatening behavior will also be subject to enforcement.

In the UK, playing music loudly or singing on trains has been prohibited since 2005. Passengers who refuse to turn down the volume can be made to leave the train or fined up to £1,000 (about 1.9 million won).

Playing music or videos on public transportation without headphones is known as "loudcasting" or "sodcasting." Surveys conducted by polling organizations and Transport for London (TfL) have also found that the majority of respondents dislike this behavior.

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Andy Burnham said, "Everyone has probably experienced someone playing music or videos loudly on their phone at some point," adding, "This behavior is not only irritating but can ruin an entire journey."

Earlier this year, the government granted local authorities the power to crack down on disruptive behavior on buses. New guidance issued this time explains how those powers can be used, and the relevant rules are expected to take effect after approval by the transport secretary.

Justin, who lives in Newcastle upon Tyne, told the BBC that he had stopped using buses because noise and antisocial behavior kept recurring on public transportation. He described it as "being forced to listen to the audio of unwanted social media content."

Maryam Eslamdoust, general secretary of the public transport union TSSA, described the measure as "a step in the right direction for tackling antisocial behavior on public transportation."

Transport Focus, the independent transport watchdog, said its own research found that passenger safety was a key factor influencing confidence in rail travel. Alex Campbell, a representative of the organization, said, "Four in 10 passengers said they had felt uneasy while traveling because of antisocial behavior," adding, "Reducing behavior that inconveniences other passengers, such as playing music loudly or using e-cigarettes, could improve the experience of using public transportation and help increase passenger numbers."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.