1. We learned yesterday that one should try to use a shinui when performing melachah on Shabbat on behalf of a woman giving birth. The same applies if a Jew drives the woman in labor to the hospital on Shabbat to give birth, whenever possible. For example, one should try to turn on the car while holding the key in an unusual manner or pressing the ignition button in some cars, if this is at all possible (R. Yitzchak Zilberstein, Torat Hayoledet 20:1). Any lights that must be turned on manually inside the car, such as interior lights or headlights, should be turned on with the back of one’s hands if possible (or preferably with a non-Jew, if one is available). Any settings that enable these lights to be turned on automatically should preferably be set before Shabbat.

2. One should, of course, drive safely and not try to perform any unnecessary shinui while driving. However, one should try to avoid very sharp acceleration since this causes more fuel to be spent, and may violate the melachah of mavir (creating a fire) more than accelerating slowly. In places where signaling is not necessary or required by law, one could forego signaling (Torat Hayoledet 20:3).

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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for everlasting peace in Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.