Bolt, the popular ride-hailing app, is now blocking passengers with low ratings from drivers. The company told Technext this after sharing a new survey on how drivers rate riders. Low scores can mean warnings, fewer rides, or even account bans for users.
This puts pressure on passengers to behave well, just like drivers do.
Bolt says it treats riders and drivers the same. If you get bad ratings often or break rules, you face action. It could be a warning, temp block, or full suspension. The exact steps depend on how bad things get. Passengers bring in the money, but Bolt wants respect on both sides.
Many drivers beg riders for good ratings after trips. It helps them get more jobs. But most riders don’t know drivers rate them too. Bolt says most drivers know about it. It’s built into the app. After a ride, drivers see a default five-star rating for the rider.
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They leave it if all went smoothly. They change it only for big problems like fights, dirt, or payment fights.
Bolt Survey shows why drivers give low marks
Bolt asked over 1,800 drivers in Nigeria about rider ratings. The results are clear. Rudeness or shouting tops the list at 76%. That’s the big reason for low scores.
Payment arguments come next at 49%. Safety worries are third with 42%. Same number for riders who mess up the car or leave trash.
This beats old ideas that traffic or route changes cause bad ratings. No, it’s about how riders act day to day. Bolt’s West Africa boss, Teddy Appa-Dankyi, said many riders rate drivers but forget the reverse.
“Talk nice and care for the car, it makes rides better for all,” he added.
The survey is part of the ride-hailing platform’s push to teach about ratings. They want more respect on the road. Driver feedback keeps trust high in Nigeria’s big cities. Lagos, Abuja, PH – ride-hailing feeds families. Simple stuff like showing up on time, no mess, polite chat goes far.
Bolt’s move comes as apps fight for users. Uber and inDrive compete hard. Good behaviour keeps drivers happy and on the road. Passengers, check your rating in the app. Fix bad habits now. One rude trip can cost future rides.
This could change how Nigerians use Bolt. Riders might act nicer. Drivers feel safer. App gets better reviews. Win for all. More cities could copy it. Stay tuned – Bolt might share more survey details soon.
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