The jobs killer is coming: How driverless trucks could change Australia

Running head: TOPICS IN IT ETHICS
Topics in IT Ethics: The jobs killer is coming: How driverless trucks could change Australia
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TOPICS IN IT ETHICS
The jobs killer is coming: How driverless trucks could change Australia
Introduction
Driverless cars are one of the most technologically advanced inventions which can
devastate Australia. With the advent of the driverless vehicles, majority of the truck drivers can
looses their jobs. Furthermore, the safety passengers boarding the driverless vehicles or cars are
at stake. The driverless vehicles that are guided by the robot drivers are expected to replace the
human drivers as the robot drivers do not need food or sleep. However, with the increase in use
of the robot drivers, it is not only the drivers who will lose their job but also the businesses that
are link with the truck drivers including the service stations, cafes and food joints will lose their
job (NewsComAu, 2018). Therefore it is essential to evaluate whether it is ethically correct to
make use of the driverless cars or trucks (Shapiro, Stefkovich & Gutierrez, 2014). The purpose
of this essay is to analyse the situation on basis of four classical theories which are Utilitarian
theory, Deontological theory, Virtue theory and contract theory. These theories will help in
analysing whether the use of driverless vehicles is ethical or not.
The Situation
The driverless vehicles are considered as the jobs killer since it can practically replace the
truck drivers from their jobs. Along with the drivers, for making the situation worse, the
businesses that are linked with the truck drivers will lose their jobs as well since the human
drivers are their permanent customers. Since the robot drivers do not need food or sleep, the
roadside food joints, service stations and coffee shops are expected to run out of their business.
The outlook in the transport sector of Australia prove that the almost all goods that are
produced in Australia are needed to be transported to the final customer. Therefore, it is obvious

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TOPICS IN IT ETHICS
that a large number of people are engaged with the business of truck drivers. Now, if robots are
taking the place of the truck drivers, it is expected that a large number of people will run out of
their jobs (Abney, 2012).
Not only the jobs of thousands of people are at stake, the use of the autonomous vehicles
questions the safety of the goods and passengers (Goodall, 2014). Since a vehicle is being driven
by a robot, there are large chances of unforeseen accidents that might result in loss of human
lives. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate whether the use of the driverless vehicles is ethically
correct or not.
The Four Classical Theories of Ethics
The four classical ethical theories are theory of utilitarianism, deontology, virtue, and
contract (Shafer-Landau, 2014). According to the theory of utilitarianism, an act will be morally
and ethically correct as long it produces greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of
people (Broad, 2014). On the other hand, the theory of deontology focuses on the rightness and
wrongness of the actions as opposed to the rightness and wrongness of the consequences of the
same action. Theory of virtue emphasizes on individual’s character as the key element associated
with an ethical thinking (Audi, 2012). The contract theory of ethics states that a philosophy or an
act only if it is agreed upon by a larger section of the society.
Considering the case of driverless vehicles that can claim jobs of thousands, it is essential
to analyse whether the act of using a driverless vehicles is ethical or not.
The Analysis