MORGANTOWN  -- Monongalia County Emergency Services workers respond to more than 16,000 calls each year. But they say some drivers are making it nearly impossible to get to the people who need help.

Since1976, Mon EMS has been a vital part of emergency services in Monongalia County. But over the years the county's expansion and ever-increasing population has brought new challenges for first responders.

We talked with administrators and first responders to learn more about what changes they hope will happen and what residents can do to help them when they respond to emergencies.

"All too often we take them for granted," said Monongalia Health System President and CEO David Robertson.

Robertson was talking about the 61 employees who make up Mon EMS.

Dawn Spear is a paramedic with Mon EMS. "It's a good reward to help other people at their time of need," she said.

Mon EMS responds to 95 percent of the 9-1-1 calls in Monongalia County. But helping people in their time of need takes time, especially around Morgantown.

"It can take a long time to go a very short distance," Robertson explained.

To shorten response times Mon Health System wants to build a second facility across the river. But it doesn't have the money in its budget. So it's seeking federal funding to build a facility that would better serve Star City, Granville, and the western part of the county.

"The amount of time that it can take during certain times of the day to get from the central part of the community across the river are delays that are really delaying the care for the patient," Robertson said.

Which is why drivers need to help, too, by pulling to the right side of the road and stopping until the emergency vehicle passes.

"A lot of people are preoccupied with their phones, their radios and stuff and they don't see us until we're right behind them and they just stop which caused a lot of wrecks," Spear explained. "We want to get to the scene in one piece, get there safely. If we get in an accident on the way to the scene we're not going to do anybody any good."

Right now Robertson says the hope for a new facility is really just that. Without federal funding the building is not possible.

In the meantime Mon EMS is reminding drivers to obey the law.

We've copied it below from the WV Legislature web site. You can also see it by clicking on the link below.

CHAPTER 17C. TRAFFIC REGULATIONS AND LAWS OF THE ROAD. ARTICLE 9. RIGHT-OF-WAY.

§17C-9-5. Operation of vehicles and streetcars on approach of authorized emergency vehicles.

(a) Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle equipped with at least one flashing lighted lamp of a color authorized by section twenty-six, article fifteen of this chapter, which is visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred feet to the front of such vehicle other than a police vehicle when operated as an authorized emergency vehicle, and when the driver is giving audible signal by siren, exhaust whistle, or bell:

(1) The driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right- of-way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway clear of any intersection and shall stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, except when otherwise directed by a police officer.

(2) Upon the approach of an authorized emergency vehicle, as above stated, the motorman of every streetcar shall immediately stop such car clear of any intersection and keep it in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, except when otherwise directed by a police officer.

(b) This section shall not operate to relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway.

§17C-9-6. Misdemeanor to violate provisions of article; penalty.

Any person violating the provisions of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars; upon a second conviction within one year thereafter, shall be fined not more than three hundred dollars; and upon a third or subsequent conviction, shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars.