911 Operator Test Map Reading and Directions 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?

Accepted Answer

West

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

To quickly guide the user to the general location of a street on the map page.

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Northbound on Maple Ave

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

"What is the nearest cross street or major intersection?"

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

A jurisdictional boundary between different response agencies.

Answer

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.

911 Operator Test Practice Test

911 Operator Test Practice Test

911 Operator Test Map Reading and Directions Questions and Answers