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- Uber will soon ban passengers with low ratings, the company announced Wednesday.
- The company did not say what minimum riders will need to meet, or what infractions might ding you the most.
- Drivers have long been expected to comply with minimum star ratings in order to keep working.
Have a low Uber passenger rating? The company could soon ban you from the app, it announced Wednesday.
Drivers have long been expected to meet certain minimum ratings to continue working on the platform, Kate Parker, Uber’s Head of Safety Brand and Initiatives, explained in a blog post. Now, passengers wil be expected to uphold their side as well.
"Riders may lose access to Uber if they develop a significantly below average rating," the company said. "Riders will receive tips on how to improve their ratings, such as encouraging polite behavior, avoiding leaving trash in the vehicle and avoiding requests for drivers to exceed the speed limit. Riders will have several opportunities to improve their rating prior to losing access to the Uber apps."
Read more: There’s a new, easier way to find your rating on Uber inside the app
Before the standards take effect, Uber is launching an education campaign so that everyone, from riders to drivers, understands what’s acceptable — and what’s not — on an Uber ride.
"From in app messages and email to signs in Greenlight Hubs, we’ll get the word out to customers and partners," the company said. "By educating customers and partners about the Community Guidelines, asking them to confirm they understand, and holding everyone accountable, we can help Uber be welcoming and safe for all."
Read more: Uber and Lyft drivers reveal the most annoying things that passengers do during rides
Uber didn’t offer any specifics on what behaviors it’s trying to mitigate with the new policies and educational programs, but in conversations with Business Insider, more than 30 Uber drivers have explained what their biggest pet peeves are and things they wish riders would avoid doing during rides.
Wednesday’s announcement comes on the heels of a new offering for Uber’s premium service, Uber Black, in which passengers can request a quiet ride if they’re willing to pay for the convenience.
Uber will disclose its first quarterly earnings as a public company on Thursday after markets close.
NOW WATCH: We rode in a self-driving Uber — here’s what it was like
See Also:
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- Terrifying video shows a Lyft driver being attacked by a passenger, and it highlights a major fear of many drivers
- From food delivery to self-driving cars, here’s how all of Uber and Lyft’s side-businesses compare
Source: Business Insider – grapier@businessinsider.com (Graham Rapier)