Emergency Telephone Number

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30535, 2 September 1964, Page 16

Emergency Telephone Number

Sir,—An emergency telephone service is most certainly a good idea, but surely the number chosen, 111, is not as suitable as 999 or any combination of 99, etc. By comparison with 111, 999 is as easy to remember, easier to locate in smoke or darkness, faster to dial and less likely to cause errors through incorrect selection of number. Thus it would seem better to use 999 if it is • technically possible.—Yours, etc. B.H.H. , August 27, 1964. [The divisional equipment engineer of the Post Office, Mr E. G. Harris, says: “New Zealand is using the ‘lll’ service which is actually identical with the British ‘999,’ the point being that T appears on our dial where ‘9’ appears on the British dial. In New Zealand ‘9’ is unusable as a first figure because it can be easily simulated when a handset is fumbled, when overhead wires touch in the wind, and for other reasons. Since ‘9’ is unusable, the choice of ‘l,’ which can still be easily located on the dial In the dark, is considered to be the most efficient and satisfactory number to be used.”]