Uber made the announcement on its blog, which reads, “Respect is a two-way street, and so is accountability. Drivers have long been expected to meet a minimum rating threshold which can vary city to city. While we expect only a small number of riders to ultimately be impacted by ratings-based deactivations, it’s the right thing to do.”
The punishment won’t come out of nowhere, however. Users whose ratings are slipping will reportedly be notified and receive tips on how to improve their standing. So, basically, don’t throw up on the seats, don’t leave liquor bottles on the floor, and don’t take 20 minutes to corral your friends into the Uber.
According to a spokesperson for the Independent Drivers Guild, “Holding riders accountable for their behavior on the Uber platform is an important safety measure to protect drivers as well as fellow riders who may book shared rides. While most riders are respectful, banning riders who threaten driver safety, spew racist rants, and disrespect or damage our vehicles is the right thing to do. For too long there has been one-sided accountability and this is a positive step toward correcting that.” 
H/T: Thrillist