In the nussach of Tefillas HaDerech we say שתוליכני לשלום – “He should take us in peace” even if one is traveling himself. The reason for this is because a tefillah on behalf of the public has more power and is more likely to be answered. Such a tefillah is not false, as there are certainly other people traveling at the same time as well. Like the Magen Avraham (565) writes on the Rema which says, “If an individual is fasting, he should recite ‘answer us on the day of our fast’”, that such a thing is not false, as there is certainly at least one other person somewhere in the world fasting. Therefore, here as well, we say it in the plural as there are certainly other people travelling as well. We see from here the power of a tzibbur. It’s said over about R’ Chaim Shmuelevitz that he would prefer to travel by bus, then to go in a private car, as he felt that the on the bus there was a zechus harabbim.
Based on the above, perhaps we can argue on the Eretz Chemdah and say that just like we find that when reciting “hamapil” there is no concern of a berachah levatolah as it is going on the minhogoi shel oilam, the same thing is by Tefillas HaDerech, it is not only going on one’s own private journey, it is going on anyone else who is also traveling.
