OMM Redaksiyası
Bus passengers in Singapore can now face fines of up to S$500 ($391; £293) for playing loud audio, placing their feet on seats, eating, drinking or littering on board, according to the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
The regulations, announced on Monday, formally classify a range of disruptive behaviours on buses as legal offences. Previously, such matters were generally handled under individual bus companies’ policies, with drivers able to ask passengers to leave.
Fines of up to S$5,000 for serious offences
More serious violations may result in fines of up to S$5,000. These include obstructing or endangering fellow commuters in bus terminals, as well as “the soiling of any part of a public bus, bus interchange, or terminal”.
The new rules bring Singapore’s bus network into line with existing regulations on the city-state’s Mass Rapid Transit system, where certain conduct, including eating on trains, has long been punishable.
Authorised bus employees, including ticket inspectors and staff working at interchanges, may issue official notices to passengers suspected of committing an offence, the LTA said.
Bus drivers, known locally as “captains”, will not have the authority to issue the notices. Their primary responsibility is to operate vehicles safely, although they may instruct passengers to stop disruptive behaviour. Those who refuse to cooperate could be asked to leave the bus or, in serious cases, face police intervention.
Similar measures introduced elsewhere
Singapore is among a growing number of places seeking to curb disruptive conduct on public transport. Earlier this year, the Polish city of Kraków introduced fines of up to 200 złoty ($52; £39) for behaviours including playing music, watching videos without headphones and making loud calls on buses and trams.
In the United Kingdom, laws already prohibit the use of “sound-producing equipment” without permission when it causes annoyance to others. Violators may face fines of up to £1,000, while some politicians have called for specific penalties targeting passengers who do not use headphones.
The LTA said the measures were intended to promote a safer and more considerate public transport environment, describing public transport as “a shared space” in which every commuter has a role in maintaining a pleasant journey.
