Bus driver powers to enforce face coverings

The increasing infection rate is caused in part by bus passengers not adhering to covid guidance. Every day when I have to commute by public transport between home and work, there are an abundance of passengers who flout the face covering rules, clearly without being exempt. Exempt passengers should be issued with a card they can present or be refused travel. Bus drivers feel powerless and so do us, the ones who chose to follow the rules. We need conductors back!!

Why the contribution is important

Non compliance is contributing to the spread, asking nicely is evidently NOT working.

by Kb86 on October 05, 2020 at 03:58PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 3.2
Based on: 35 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Nicamb October 05, 2020 at 16:20

    Even people who claim to be exempt from wearing a mask could wear one whilst sitting still on a bus journey, too many people saying they’re exempt when not, refusal to travel will make everyone wear one soon enough!

  • Posted by Tinapaul1 October 05, 2020 at 16:25

    To suppress the virus it is very important that people wear masks to protect and help stop the spread of the virus. On public transport and in shops social distancing is not being adhered to, so needs masks as an aid

  • Posted by massimop October 05, 2020 at 16:36

    I agree. I'm a university student from the north of Italy, and I was shocked to see so many people on the bus without wearing a face mask here. I only took the bus three times because of this reason, and also some of my friends stopped taking the bus because they are too scared of getting infected by people who do not want to wear a mask. The driver should deny access to people who do not wear a mask.

  • Posted by Kb86 October 05, 2020 at 16:59

    Massimop I completely sympathise with you and understand. I'm working as a domestic assistant and spend my entire day cleaning to keep our students safe. It is a real kick in the teeth to see all of the work (under risky circumstances) being undone by thoughtless people. I am sorry that you feel this way and I hope, for all of our sakes, that this situation will change soon and you will feel safer whilst undertaking your studies.

  • Posted by Jbined October 05, 2020 at 18:03

    Also windows need to be kept open and number of seats reduced, now because of the 10pm curfew buses shortly after that time are completely packed and many young people not wearing masks at all or properly

  • Posted by LouiseAW October 05, 2020 at 19:07

    I too can become very frustrated when people do not wear masks on buses, or just over their mouth or (my particular "favourite") on their chin. But some people are genuinely exempt, and if people are wilfully disregarding the rules, I am not sure how bus drivers can keep safe themselves and enforce this. And I am not sure it is fair on drivers either. Maybe look at how other countries do this where there is a higher rate of compliance?

  • Posted by Footiemum October 05, 2020 at 20:41

    This would be terrible. Bus drivers are not Covid enforcers. What type of society are people advocating?

  • Posted by Morrisc0502 October 05, 2020 at 20:50

    The laws should only ever be enforced by law enforcement officers such as the police. The onus is on individuals to do the right thing. The law clearly provides an exemption for individuals and they shouldn’t be denied the right to travel because of a medical condition. This would be very shaky on a legal basis.

  • Posted by mstirner October 05, 2020 at 20:55

    Today there was a story in the news where a grown man beat a teenage girl on a bus because she wasn't wearing a mask.

    What sort of society have we become?

  • Posted by GillianForHealth October 05, 2020 at 22:21

    If you’re in public transport wearing a mask as you believe that to be protected ting you the. I don’t see the problem.

  • Posted by montyred October 05, 2020 at 22:32

    To encourage people to use public transport, face coverings should be mandatory. CCTV would be good in identifying those who refuse to do so.

  • Posted by CitizensNotSubjects October 06, 2020 at 07:33

    Mask wearing just delays the inevitable. We should follow a sustainable model that works - Sweden, not a failed one coming from Imperial College, London.

  • Posted by MsM October 06, 2020 at 14:12

    There are reasons why exemptions are included in the legislation - to protect people with hidden disabilities - and nobody has the right to discriminate against them.

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