Penalties for disruptive passengers will deter misbehaviour: Public bus drivers

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

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.

Tower Transit Singapore bus captain Mohammed Syazwan Mohammed Salim often faces noisy passengers, too.

"Sometimes, they talk very loudly, and the language can be colourful," he said.

He usually gives them a few bus stops' grace before stepping in. "If they still continue, I'll intervene," he said.

Some passengers challenge him or appear offended, though ultimately, they do comply with his instructions, he added.

Stopping the bus to deal with such passengers affects run times and delays others, he noted.

Mr Syazwan, 28, believes penalties will deter misbehaviour and make passengers more likely to comply when told to stop.

His colleague, Mr Muhammad Shairul Nizam Abdol Mutalib, also 28, said the new rules will encourage more considerate behaviour and give bus drivers assurance that the authorities will act when needed.

"Some passengers don't realise how their behaviour affects others," he said.

Currently, under the Conditions of Carriage introduced in March, drivers can ask disruptive passengers to leave the bus - but there are no penalties if they refuse.

Mr Guek said penalties would "ease our work". A bus driver's main job is not to police passengers but to provide a safe and comfortable journey for public transport users, he added.

Veteran bus driver Abdul Lathiff Mohamed Rafi said loud noise from passengers can be dangerous, as drivers need to stay alert to traffic, and hear car horns and the bus bell.

"If the sound is too loud, we can't concentrate on the road," he said.

Penalising noisy passengers will also help those sensitive to sound, he added. One of his routes passes a special needs school, and he tries to keep the bus quiet for the children.

Mr Guek, whose route also serves a special needs school, echoed this.

National Transport Workers' Union executive secretary Yeo Wan Ling said bus drivers handle many duties alone, from keeping to schedules to helping passengers with mobility needs.

To support them, she called for more public education on the behavioural rules, such as through signs and audio announcements in multiple languages at interchanges and on buses.

"Our bus captains told us that many commuters are still unfamiliar with the rules and their consequences," said Ms Yeo, who is also an MP for Punggol GRC and NTUC assistant secretary-general.

She also suggested that security-related enforcement should be handled by dedicated enforcement officers, allowing bus drivers to focus on driving safely.

Under the amended Act, the authorities can also conduct security checks - including frisk searches and X-ray scans of belongings - on passengers on buses and at interchanges.

Where bus drivers do need to step in to help, there should be clear guidelines on their responsibilities, escalation steps and how to seek support, Ms Yeo said.

She said stronger penalties against those who endanger or abuse public transport workers can deter misconduct and affirm staff safety.

Mr Murali said in Parliament that the Government intends to issue new regulations that will allow LTA to take stern action against passengers who abuse public transport workers. These will be announced later.

SBS Transit spokeswoman Grace Wu said the operator welcomes the regulations, though she noted that disruptive passengers represent a small group.

"With this regulation coming into force, we look forward to passengers enjoying pleasant and safe rides on our public buses," Mrs Wu said.