Public bus drivers welcome penalties for disruptive passengers, say it will deter misbehaviour

Mr Guek Peng Kian, a senior bus captain at SBS Transit, said he encounters inconsiderate passengers daily.

- Vanessa Paige Chelvan

Mr Guek, 48, added that most commonly, these passengers would blast music or videos on their mobile phones, affecting both passengers and drivers.

Each time he asks someone to lower the volume, one thought crosses his mind: “Will the passenger react violently?”

While passengers often comply, they sometimes challenge him, Mr Guek said, and would ask him: “Why can’t I listen?”

Amendments to the Bus Services Industry Act, passed on Oct 14, will give the Land Transport Authority (LTA) stronger powers to act against such disruptive passengers.

Senior Minister of State for Transport Murali Pillai said in Parliament that the Government intends to regulate the conduct of passengers to prevent inconsiderate behaviour on public buses and at bus interchanges.

Such behaviour includes littering, eating and drinking, as well as playing loud music or videos on mobile phones.

Those who breach the new rules will face penalties based on how their actions affect others, with stiffer penalties for repeat offenders, he added.

The detailed regulations, including penalties, will be announced later.

All public bus drivers are taught how to deal with difficult passengers, Mr Guek said. “We are trained to approach them politely. If they refuse (to comply) or ignore us, we'll report to the Operations Control Centre,” he explained.

In serious cases, such as if passengers turn aggressive, the police may be called.