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A party of party poopers? Or defenders of the “quiet majority”? Either way, the Liberal Democrats are redefining “political battlebus” by proposing a ban on people playing music and videos out loud on their phones on public transport.
Under the plan, those who blast out songs and TV shows from their phone on public transport, or while at stations or bus stops, could face a maximum fine of £1,000.
The party is proposing an amendment to the bus services bill, which is now going through parliament, that would make this an offence. As transport policy is devolved, this would apply to England only.
If the law was changed, the ban would be promoted through a national publicity campaign. Some other countries have already imposed such bans. Earlier this year a man was fined €200 (£170) by rail staff after making a phone call on loudspeaker in a quiet area of Nantes station in France. He is challenging the penalty.
To back up the idea, the Lib Dems commissioned polling that showed 38% of people said they had experienced people playing loud music from their phones often or sometimes, with 28% saying this had happened rarely.
The polling, by Savanta, found that 54% of people said they would not feel comfortable asking someone to turn down their music on public transport, rising to 63% among women.
Lisa Smart, the party’s home affairs spokesperson, said: “Far too many people dread their daily commute because of the blight of antisocial behaviour – and headphone dodgers playing loud music on buses and trains are some of the worst offenders.
“Whether you’re heading to work, taking your kids to school or simply trying to enjoy a moment of peace, everyone deserves to feel safe and respected on public transport.
“Time and time again, I hear from people who say they feel too intimidated to speak up when someone is blasting music or other content from a phone or speaker. It’s time to take a stand for the quiet majority who just want to get from A to B in peace.”
The Conservatives said they would back the idea, as long as any ban was properly enforced. Gareth Bacon, the shadow transport secretary, said: “Everyone deserves to travel in peace. Playing loud music on public transport may seem like a small thing, but it speaks towards a growing tolerance of antisocial behaviour that chips away at public civility.”
Railway bylaws already prohibit antisocial behaviour such as littering and the amendment would set out that music or other loud noise from a phone would also be categorised in the same vein.
