Noisy phone users could face ban on transport

A party of party poopers? Or defenders of the "quiet majority"? Either way, the Liberal Democrats are redefining "political battle bus" by proposing a ban on people playing music and videos on their phone speaker on public transport.

- Peter Walker

Anyone blasting out their favourite songs or TV shows on public transport, or while at stations or bus stops, would face a maximum fine of £1,000.

The proposed amendment to the bus services bill going through parliament would make playing sound out loud an offence in England.

A ban would be promoted by a national publicity campaign.

Other countries have already imposed bans. In February a man in France was fined €200 (£170) by rail staff after making a phone call on speaker in a quiet area of Nantes station. He is challenging the penalty.

To back up the idea, the Lib Dems commissioned polling that found 38% of respondents had experienced people playing loud music from phones often or sometimes, while 28% said it had happened rarely.