British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has launched a fight against playing loud music or watching videos aloud on public transport, announcing a new national campaign. Its main aim is to make train carriages a little more comfortable for passengers. He is to announce the campaign formally on Monday, the Guardian reported online.
Under the slogan “Share the carriage, not the noise”, the campaign will encourage passengers to use headphones, avoid talking on speakerphone and watch videos quietly.
Under new powers in the Bus Services Act, local transport authorities can now make and enforce their own rules against antisocial behaviour on buses. The government is to issue guidance saying passengers who ignore requests to stop antisocial behaviour could be fined up to £100 (about Tk 16,442).
Bus drivers will not have to enforce the rules; that will be left to transport safety officers or police. On trains, operating companies already have powers to fine people up to £1,000 (about Tk 164,425) for similar behaviour.
London mayor Sadiq Khan also launched a campaign last summer urging passengers to “travel considerately”, including by wearing headphones. A recent YouGov survey found that loud music on buses and trains is one of people’s main annoyances, and respondents supported a £1,000 fine for people who play loud music on buses and trains.
Trade unions criticised the move, saying it will do little to protect transport workers. Sharon Graham, general secretary of the Unite union, said that although the government’s proposal was well meant, the fines were wholly inadequate to tackle the challenges and violence bus workers face every day.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report