The concept of a car or truck moving around from its origin, navigating traffic and roads to its destination successfully and without a driver is as exciting a technology as probably people watching television for the first time. Yet, with it comes the reality that people could lose jobs and the $ 200 billion Australian transport industry which the economy relies on to get going could lose jobs (Reynolds, 2016); the concept of driver-less trucks is a disruptive one that has both positive and negative consequences. This paper analyzes this concept, based on the article case study from the perspectives of ethics, where the case in evaluated from four ethical perspectives namely; the utilitarianism, deontology, virtue, and contract theories.
This normative theory of ethics posits that the placement of whether something is wrong or right depends exclusively on its outcomes. Based on this theory, driver-less trucks will have several immense benefits to the overall economy and society in general. Driver-less trucks are safer; deaths due to trucks are increasing; in NSW, data shows that truck caused deaths increased by 86% in the 12 months to December 2017: the most common trucks involved in these accidents are articulated trucks (Christodoulou, 2017). many long distance drivers drive at night; research shows that long distance drivers are thrice as likely to have an accident driving at night between midnight and dawn (Stevenson, 2018). Driver-less trucks are safer and will likely reduce truck accidents; the computer does not get tired or require ‘rest’ to work at peak levels (‘The Economist’, 2017). The cost structure of supply chains will be transformed; labor represents almost two thirds of shipping a full truck load so by using driver-ls trucks, supply chain costs will be reduced, increasing profits for firms, and lowering overall cost of goods, benefits that translate to the wider economy (Potts, 2016). Driver-less trucks will be more efficient, work almost round the clock, and be immune to human labor factors, such as leave, need for pay rises, or picketing and go slows and will spur economic growth as a result, benefiting society in many ways (Madrigal, 2018). On the downside, driver-less trucks will lead to truckers losing jobs; yet this should not be a bad thing since the drivers can be reassigned duties by the trucking, further creating new skills and safer jobs for truckers (Kuang, 2017). Reviewing these facts, and using the Utilitarianism theory, driver-less trucks is actually a good thing that will benefit society more and should be embraced
This is a normative theory in which the morality of an action is judged based on rules; the consequences of an action does not make the actions taken right or wrong, instead, it is the motive with which the action has been taken that makes them right or wrong, based on the concept of duty. The theory also posits that the action in itself therefore makes it either right or wrong; the idea of driver-less cars, as the topic states, will take away jobs and leave the truck drivers and their families jobless. Further, towns and institutions that depend on truck drivers such as motels and eateries will also lose business, further affecting their families and economies. The driver-less trucks will not only impact the jobs of truckers and the related hospitality industry; they will adversely impact other industries including the real estate sector, the parking sector, insurance, the legal sector, hotels and motel industries, auto repair sector, and online retail sectors. The real estate will drop, such as in investing in highway motels, as will the hospitality sector and repairs business. Less human error and higher efficiencies mean (Barbier, 2017). Based on these arguments, in the context of the deontology ethical theory, driver-less trucks is a bad idea that will lead to massive loss of jobs and slowing of industries, affecting families and entire communities, when the goal of governments and any progressive society is to ensure people have livelihoods through rewarding jobs
This is another ethical theory that views ethics from the perspective of the character of the person; the focus is placed upon belief that the disposition to do what is considered right is a decision based on character and not a set of rules (Baurmann, 2002). If I was the owner of a trucking or logistics company, and had suffered the effects of truck drivers going on a go slow: I have also had to contend with paying out damages to people injured by truck accidents caused by human error and have to as well contend with employees having to go on leave, be paid salary increments, and have to rest in between work, an opportunity that eliminates or drastically reduces these costs and managerial constraints would be highly welcome. Every business aims at giving clients better services, lowering costs, and attaining higher returns: driver-less trucks are sure to help an organization achieve these goals, plus, driver-less cars are less likely to have accidents (compared to human drivers) (Clements & Kockelman, 2017; (Lin, Wang, & Guo, 2016). These initiatives wont hurt anyone, as far as corporate strategy is concerned since drivers will lose jobs if business goes down due to poor performance or if vehicles are grounded because of accidents. Therefore, this theory shows that driver-less trucks is a good idea that should be implemented without hesitation
In this perspective, the theory posits that we live in societies, bound by an agreement that establishes political rules of behavior and moral principles. Living according to a social contract will help people live in harmony, based on moral concepts without the need to subscribe to a higher being (such as God, for example), to manage our vision of morality (Rendtorff, 2009; (Mandle, 2009). Yet, the concept of driver-less trucks in Australian roads means that apart from the jobs of the truckers going away, many industries including real estate, highway auto repair shops, and motels. Any social contract seeks to be inclusive, meaning that everybody is given a reasonable chance for self actualization and to live happily according to their labor (Mittal & Singh, 2015). By replacing drivers, not only the truckers and people working n related industries will be affected; entire families and societies will be affected. On the other hand, truck drivers cause accidents due to human error and slow down the supply chain (they have to take rest, among others) (Walker, 2016). Assuming life saving supplies are needed in a given location, self-driven cars are likely to perform better. On this aspect, therefore, self-driving cars is a good thing; while some jobs will be lost, there will be greater benefits including economic growth that will no doubt create opportunities for those whose jobs disappear because of driver-less cars.
Conclusion
Driver-less trucks is no longer a Utopian dream but a reality that may dawn on society sooner or later. This paper looked at its ramification based on various theories, including the Utilitarianism, Deontology, Virtue, and Contract theories. According to utilitarianism the idea is noble and beneficial; according to deontology, it is a bad ida; based on virtue theory, it is a a good idea, same as based on the
References
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Christodoulou, M. (2017, December 29). NSW truck deaths increase by 86 per cent in 12 months. Retrieved from https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/nsw-truck-deaths-increase-by-86-per- cent-in-12-months-20171221-h08ocu.html
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Reynolds, E. (2016, May 2). The jobs killer is coming. Retrieved from https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/travel/the-jobs-killer-is-coming-how-driverless- trucks-could-change-australia/news-story/4f5b8a42b0452703d62e00f3e7644d7b
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