FOR the first time since lockdown started, I left home on Thursday for an appointment at Royal Bournemouth Hospital (something of a ‘treat’ actually – rather like a mini-excursion!).

Boarding a number 3 at Queen’s Road, I was impressed to see how Yellow Buses have taken to heart the government’s ‘social distancing’ guidelines with the seats directly behind the driver and alternate seats elsewhere on the bus hadd been very clearly labelled with unmissable, bright yellow plastic placards bearing the injunction ‘DO NOT USE THIS SEAT’.

I was the only person on the bus until we reached Bournemouth rail station – where a young couple, probably in their late 20s to early 30s, boarded and, ignoring the notices, immediately occupied the seats directly behind the driver!

When I remonstrated with them, their response was a dismissive shrug of the shoulders, commenting “It’s all a load of nonsense” and adding that I should mind my own business.

I pointed out that it most definitely was my business and that it was due to scofflaws like them that we are having such a hard battle to stop the spread of the virus.

Fortunately selfish, antisocial morons like that odious pair are in the minority, but it is up to the rest of us to confront those who, by ignoring the rules are putting the safety of others at risk. Perhaps refusal to conform to ‘social-distancing’ rules should be regarded as ‘reckless endangerment’ and punished accordingly.

ROBERT READMAN
Norwich Avenue West, Bournemouth