Consumer Critique: Strap Caddy

At any given moment in a day, 660,000 drivers are using or manipulating phones while driving, and dash-mounted phones simply mean drivers’ eyes are off the road. Add in the distractions that come with children in the car and there are few more dangerous combinations.

I had a chance to review Strap Caddy, a new hands-free phone holder that removes those temptations by attaching to any seat belt, letting drivers use their smartphone's speaker and mic without obstructing their view or forcing them to take their eyes off the road. It snaps on and off belts with ease so people don't even have to pause their conversation, and is small enough to fit in a purse so it’s always on hand for renting cars.

It was fairly easy to use. I still am not a fan of cell phone use in cars in general, but for those urgent calls that need to be made, this is a clever idea. It really does just snap on to the seat belt, and having the phone's mic that much closer to me made it a lot easier to use voice-activated features and a lot easier to hear and be heard during conversations.

If you find yourself talking on the phone in the car a lot, check it out. It can be a much safer option than holding it, putting it your lap, or having it on your dash.