The Liberal Democrats are making a bold proposal to tackle one of the most annoying behaviours on public transport – ‘headphone dodgers’. Their plan? Fines of up to £1,000 for those who blast music or videos out loud on buses, trains, and other forms of transport across England.
🚍 The Issue at Hand
In a recent survey of 2,000 UK adults, 38% said they regularly encounter people playing music or videos out loud on public transport. It’s clear this is a widespread problem. Even more telling, over half (54%) of people admitted they wouldn’t feel comfortable asking someone to turn down the volume.
Currently, there are railway byelaws that prohibit using equipment to produce sound without permission if it annoys others. However, the Lib Dems want to take it a step further by explicitly outlawing the practice and imposing hefty fines.
💰 What the Lib Dems Want
Lisa Smart, the Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokeswoman, said: “Far too many people dread their daily commute because of anti-social behaviour. Headphone dodgers are some of the worst offenders.”
Smart continued: “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.”
While the proposal has received support from both Labour and Tory MPs, it still needs the backing of the government to become law.
💡 The Government’s Response
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport acknowledged that there are already rules in place to tackle anti-social behaviour on public transport, including possible fines of up to £1,000. However, they didn’t confirm if they would back the Lib Dems’ new proposal.
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