England issues guidance on bus nuisance penalties

The Department for Transport has issued guidance enabling local transport authorities in England to use bus rules against nuisance behaviour, with fixed penalties of up to £100. The measures cover loud audio, vaping and littering, while threatening behaviour is also cited in the guidance and reports describing the crackdown. The guidance explains how authorities can draw up and implement local rules under powers introduced earlier this year. The rules are not automatic nationwide penalties: local authorities must decide how to apply them, and the reported guidance says fixed penalties may be issued. Bus drivers will not enforce the rules, the government says. Authorised officers, including transport safety officers and police, may handle incidents. Alongside the bus guidance, a national rail campaign is launching to encourage passengers to use headphones. It will include audio reminders and messages on rail operator websites, social media and in train carriages. The Department for Transport says the campaign is intended to give passengers a consistent reminder across the network. Existing rail powers allow staff to ask passengers to stop playing audio aloud. According to the...