Playing loud music on Singapore buses can draw Tk 61,000 fine
SG Bus. Photo: Collected
Passengers who disturb others by playing loud music or videos on buses can be fined up to 500 Singapore dollars or about Tk 61,000. The penalty can also apply for putting one’s feet on bus seats, littering and eating or drinking on buses.
Singapore introduced the new rules on Wednesday. The rules took effect across the country’s bus services from the same day.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA), Singapore’s public transport regulator, said it wants to ensure a safer, more responsible and comfortable environment for passengers by introducing the new rules on buses.
Similar rules were already in place on the country’s rail services. With the new rules, a code of conduct similar to that on trains has now been introduced on buses.
Although the maximum fine for behavior that disturbs other passengers on buses is 500 Singapore dollars, the fine is much higher for serious offenses.
Passengers who obstruct the movement of others or create a danger for them at bus terminals can be fined up to 5,000 Singapore dollars. The same fine applies for making a bus, interchange or terminal dirty. The amount is about Tk 600,000 in Bangladeshi currency.
The new law is now taking effect after amendments to the law were passed by Singapore’s Parliament in October 2025.
Bus drivers in Singapore are known as bus captains. Despite the new rules, bus captains have not been given direct authority to issue fines.
Authorized staff of the operating companies will report alleged violations. They include ticket inspectors and bus interchange staff.
After receiving a report, the LTA will investigate the matter. According to the LTA, this will allow bus captains to focus on their primary responsibility of driving safely instead of controlling passenger behavior.
However, if a passenger causes serious disruption, the driver can ask the passenger to leave the bus. If the situation becomes serious, the driver can also notify the police.
A 29-year-old flight attendant named Nelson Ferdinand regularly travels by bus to Changi Airport. He said some people really do not think about others.
Many people also praised the new rules on social media platform X. Some called for similar rules to be introduced in their own countries.
Singapore is not the first country to take measures against loud noise and disruptive behavior on public transportation. In January this year, Krakow in Poland banned the use of phones or other devices on speaker mode on buses and trams. Fines have been introduced for violations.
The issue has also been discussed for years in Chennai in southern India and in London. Under the rules of Transport for London (TfL), playing loud music or any content without permission in a way that disturbs other passengers is prohibited.
Source: The Independent (Adapted)
