2LT National News

SYDNEY, Australia – In a bid to deal with problems that its drivers face related to passenger behavior – Uber has now decided to take matters into its own hands.

In two specific markets – Australia and New Zealand, the ride-hailing service will now refuse services to rude passengers. 

Uber has announced that it is rolling out a new minimum average rating requirement for all passengers in Australia and New Zealand. 

It said that as per an update on its community guidelines, it is implementing changes that will go into effect on September 19. 

Uber noted that passengers who get too close to the minimum will be alerted before they fall below the requirement. 

Further, the company warned that once a rider drops below the minimum rating of 4.0 and fails to improve after multiple notifications – their account could be deactivated. 

Such passengers would then have to take a “short educational exercise” to reactivate their account. 

However, Uber has stated its minimum rating for drivers and riders varies from city to city. 

The company guidelines state that actions that could lower ratings include drinking alcohol, damaging the car, not tidying up, and just being a general jerk.

An Uber spokesperson said in a statement, “This policy is for Australia and New Zealand and will be reflected in our local community guidelines. Australia/NZ is the second country globally to roll this out, and we think it’s an important update to help ensure every Uber journey is enjoyable and comfortable for both riders and driver-partners.”

Susan Anderson, Uber’s general manager for Australia and New Zealand said in an interview with Channel 7, “The average Aussie is extremely friendly. These are the small percentage of riders who are not treating drivers with respect.”