911 Operator Test Map Reading and Directions Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A caller reports they are traveling southbound on Route 1. They see the suspect's vehicle turn onto an intersecting street and head directly toward the setting sun. In which cardinal direction is the suspect now traveling?
- North
- West (Correct answer)
- East
- South
Correct answer: West
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. If a vehicle is traveling directly toward the setting sun, it is heading in a westbound direction. The caller's own direction of travel is extra information not needed to solve the problem.
Question 2: On a standard gridded map page, what is the primary purpose of the alphanumeric coordinates (e.g., D-8, G-14) found in a street index?
- To identify the zip code for that specific area.
- To calculate the exact distance between two points.
- To quickly guide the user to the general location of a street on the map page. (Correct answer)
- To indicate the direction of traffic flow on one-way streets.
Correct answer: To quickly guide the user to the general location of a street on the map page.
The alphanumeric grid system divides a map into smaller squares, allowing a user to find the general vicinity of a street quickly by cross-referencing the coordinates from the index. It narrows the search area on a potentially complex map.
Question 3: You receive a call about a traffic accident at the corner of Maple Ave and Elm St. The frantic caller states, 'I was going east on Elm St., and the other car came from my left and hit me!' From which direction was the other vehicle traveling?
- Southbound on Maple Ave
- Westbound on Elm St
- Northbound on Maple Ave (Correct answer)
- Eastbound on Elm St
Correct answer: Northbound on Maple Ave
If a person is traveling east, their left side is to the north. Therefore, a car coming from the caller's left would have been traveling southbound. Visualizing your own orientation is key to interpreting a caller's relative directions.
Question 4: A caller reports an emergency at '3800 Washington Blvd,' but your mapping system shows the addresses in that area only go up to the 3500 block. What is the most effective clarifying question to ask to pinpoint the caller's location?
- "Are you in a house or an apartment?"
- "What is the nearest cross street or major intersection?" (Correct answer)
- "Can you describe a nearby landmark?"
- "Could you please spell the street name for me?"
Correct answer: "What is the nearest cross street or major intersection?"
When an address is invalid or doesn't exist in the system, asking for the nearest cross street is the most reliable way to get a verifiable geographic reference point. This allows the dispatcher to locate the caller on the map and guide responders accurately, even if the specific address number is wrong.
Question 5: On a digital or paper dispatch map, a heavy colored or dashed line that does not follow a physical feature like a road or river most often represents what?
- A jurisdictional boundary between different response agencies. (Correct answer)
- The border between two different zip codes.
- A recommended detour route around traffic.
- A topographical change, such as a steep hill.
Correct answer: A jurisdictional boundary between different response agencies.
Jurisdictional boundaries are critical information on a dispatch map. These lines show which police department, fire district, or EMS agency is responsible for a specific area, ensuring the correct units are dispatched.
Question 6: Which of the following terms best describes a road that is closed at one end and typically ends in a circular turnaround area?
- An intersection
- An esplanade
- A cul-de-sac (Correct answer)
- A frontage road
Correct answer: A cul-de-sac
A cul-de-sac is, by definition, a street or passage that is closed at one end. This is important for responders to know as it affects their route of approach and exit from a scene.
911 Operator Test Map Reading and Directions Questions and Answers
A caller reports they are traveling southbound on Route 1.
They see the suspect's vehicle turn onto an intersecting street and head directly toward the setting sun.
In which cardinal direction is the suspect now traveling?