At a time of a pandemic, and when we are also thinking of the consequences of war, it may seem not so important to speak of the suffering caused by road traffic. But in a typical year, upwards of a million people are killed on the world’s roads. It’s not always just ‘accidents’ either. The roads can be brutal, although those sitting comfortably behind the wheel may not realise it. My walk last Friday on the narrow footway of the A628 from Tintwistle to Hollingworth for a parcel was just one more reminder of this.
Merciful God,
as we think of all the people who have died
on the roads,
we give you thanks for their lives,
for the people they were
to those who loved them.
And we ask that you will bring comfort
to those who mourn.
And we pray for all people
who have killed others on the roads.
We ask you to forgive them
as we would want to be forgiven.
We pray for the fire, police and ambulance services
who have to deal with the consequences
of road collisions.
We pray that the roads from this day on
will be safer,
that you will strengthen the work
of organisations such as Brake, Road Peace and Cycling UK
who work for safer roads.
We pray that you will turn round our ideas,
so that we have respect for one another
and value human life.
through Jesus Christ our Lord…