Why 911? Is there some sort of symbolism

Question

I realize it is easy to memorize, but does it extent beyond that?

Answer 1

It's easy to memorize (9 and 1 are opposite sides), it prevents accidental dials.

911 is used only in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

England uses 999, Germany uses 211, and other countries use other numbers.

Answer 2

911 is one of the N11 codes that are used for specialty services-

2-1-1: community services

3-1-1: government services, non-emergency

4-1-1: directory assistance

5-1-1: traffic information or police non-emergency services

6-1-1: telephone company (telco) customer service and repair

7-1-1: TDD relay for the deaf

8-1-1: underground public utility location

9-1-1: emergency services

(See also- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N11_code)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9-1-1

"In 1968, a solution was agreed upon. AT&T had chosen the Canadian emergency number 911, which met the requirements that it be brief, easy to remember, dialed easily, and that it worked well with the phone systems in place at the time. How the number 911 itself was chosen is not well known and is subject to much speculation. However, many assert that the number 911 was chosen to be similar to the numbers 2-1-1 (long distance), 4-1-1 (information, later called "directory assistance"), and 6-1-1 (repair service), which had already been in use by AT&T since the 1920s. Also, it was necessary to ensure that the 9-1-1 number was not dialed accidentally, so 9-1-1 made sense because the numbers "9" and "1" were on opposite ends of a phone's rotary dial."

- David

Answer 3

yes. it is fast and easy to dial as well as easy to remember. but the numbers are on opposite sides of the keypad to keep people from accidentally dialing it.