You know you’re not supposed to hold your phone while you’re driving. Distracted driving kills more than 9 people and injures more than 1,153 people per day in the United States alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
So what do you do about it, whether you’re at home or on vacation? There are plenty of hands-free devices that allow you to talk on the phone while you drive, when it’s necessary to do so. There are also mounts that you can place on your dashboard that affix your phone within eyesight, should you need GPS directions (but remember to keep your eyes on the road!).
The Nite Ize Steelie Vent Mount Kit allows you to attach your smart phone to any dashboard vent, which keeps your phone hands-free, no matter what vehicle you’re using. The fact that you’re not permanently attaching the mount to the car lets you switch it whenever you want, which is exactly what you want when you’re renting.
The kit consists of a magnetic socket that adheres semi-permanently to your phone or phone case with a foam adhesive (you can remove it, should you ever tire of it), and a vent ball mount that clips onto one of the blades you see in most vehicle vents.
The vent mount ball has a cast aluminum body, a cam-locking lever that securely grips the device to nearly any vehicle vent, and incorporates a stainless steel ball that connects to the magnetic socket. The ball’s round shape allows radiant positioning options, so you can tilt your phone to any angle while connected.
For me, the Steelie Vent Mount Kit has been useful when switching cars at home, as well with different rental vehicles no matter where I travel. I wasn’t a fan of sticking the socket directly to my phone, as I tend to use cases to protect the phone—but attaching it to the case wasn’t an issue at all. The mount is about the size of a nickel, so it’s not going to add much to the phone profile.
The simple solution for hands-free driving without permanently attaching anything to your vehicle (or a stable of rental cars) is worth packing the small vent ball mount on your travels. And it’ll allow you to keep your hands on the wheel, where they belong.
The Nite Ize Steelie Vent Mount Kit lists for $39.99 on the Nite Ize site. There’s also the opportunity to purchase additional components if you happen to lose them. The kit is also available at Amazon.