Talking Loudly on Singapore Buses May Cost You

- Most bus passengers are aware of the annoyance caused by another passenger when they listen to loud music or have a phone conversation on speaker. Now, bus passengers in Singapore may face fines of up to hundreds of dollars if they engage in such behaviors.

This move is part of a strict campaign against "disturbing" behaviors on public buses in this Asian destination, where fines can reach up to 5,000 Singapore dollars (approximately 3,900 dollars) for offenders. According to a statement from the Land Transport Authority (LTA), which oversees the public transport sector in Singapore, passengers who cause "disturbance" to others may face a fine of up to 500 Singapore dollars (390 dollars), and these violations include putting feet on seats, playing sound at a high volume, littering, or eating and drinking on the bus.

Serious violations, such as endangering other passengers or "polluting any part" of the bus or other transport facilities, can incur a maximum penalty of around 3,900 dollars. The authority's statement said: "Public transport is a shared space, and every passenger has a role to play in ensuring a refined and comfortable travel environment."

These new penalties align with rules already in place on the Singapore subway system. Unlike major American cities like New York, transport systems in Asia are generally known for their cleanliness, order, and efficiency, and prohibiting eating, drinking, and playing music inside vehicles is common.

In Japan, for example, simply talking to other passengers is considered inappropriate. The efforts to create a quieter transport environment are not limited to Singapore, known for its strict laws on maintaining public cleanliness, but extend to other destinations.

This issue has emerged particularly in London, UK, where authorities launched an awareness campaign last year regarding etiquette to encourage passengers to use headphones while riding the subway. A survey conducted by Transport for London last year showed that about 70% of public transport users in the city find playing music loudly or talking on the phone loudly without using headphones annoying.

Public transport operators in cities like Beijing in China, Krakow in Poland, and Toronto in Canada have also banned playing sound at high volumes without using headphones, although the enforcement mechanisms for this decision vary from city to city. While some misbehaving passengers may only receive a verbal warning, others find themselves facing the consequences of their annoying behavior.

In February 2025, a fine of $200 was imposed on a man in France for making a loud phone call via a speakerphone inside a train station after he refused to turn off the speaker.