Prime Minister Andy Burnham has launched a national campaign urging train and bus passengers to use headphones or face removal or fines of up to £100 ($134). The move targets riders who play music or videos without headphones, a practice many say has grown more common on public transport in recent years.
London commuters expressed mixed views. Patricia Foley, 69, welcomed the effort to address what she called increasingly rude behavior, though she doubted patrols would be funded. Geoff Newnham, 37, supported fines in principle but worried enforcement would be difficult. His partner, Freya Skerten, 32, noted the unspoken rule of keeping to oneself, adding, “Unless you have a baby — then everyone wants to speak to you.”
Ken Oluwadare, 23, a university student studying music performance, preferred awareness campaigns over penalties. “I love music, but it’s only on when I am wearing my headphones,” he said.
Emma Hawkins, 57, called the plan “nonsense,” while her daughter Bea Hawkins, 22, found noisy phone use “long overdue” for action, especially when commuters watch Instagram Reels.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing