NASHUA – While some motorists may find it inconvenient to be positioned behind a school bus making frequent stops, passing a school bus that has its red lights flashing and its stop signs extended is illegal – and creates a very dangerous situation.

In the first week of school, there are already multiple reports in Nashua of drivers simply disregarding the law. Some concerned community members have taken to social media to express their views.

Paula Landry, a resident of Kathy Drive for the last 12 years, on Wednesday posted on Facebook that she had witnessed cars passing buses illegally while walking with her dogs. She expanded this on Thursday.

“I happened to be midway in front of the 70 Searles (Road) property when I moved up off the road because a bus was turning off New Searles and coming my way,” Landry stated via Messenger. “The bus slowed down at house number 59 with its yellow flashers going – and coming eastbound was four cars approaching the bus.”

“(The) bus stopped and one car stepped on it and passed it,” Landry continued.

On Thursday, Bonni Shu posted what she witnessed in front of Elm Street Middle School while a bus was parked with the stop signs showing.

“School is in session people; slow it down and mind the bus signals,” the post states. “C’mon Nashua, we must do better.”

New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated (RSA) 265:54 Overtaking and Passing School Bus, Paragraph One states: “The driver of a vehicle upon a way upon meeting or overtaking from either direction any school bus … which has stopped on the highway for the purpose of receiving or discharging school children shall stop his or her vehicle before reaching such school bus at least 25 feet away from such school bus. The driver shall not proceed until such school bus resumes motion, or until flashing red lights cease to operate.”

Despite the language of the state law, on Thursday, Nashua School District transportation officials said they hope state leaders can offer some assistance.

“We’re aware of it, and everyone in the industry is aware,” Nashua School Transportation Director David Rauseo said.”New Hampshire School Transportation Association is working with insurance companies that actually provide the instruction material for driver’s ed classes.”

As the association works to train young drivers about bus passing etiquette, the New Hampshire Driver’s Manual clearly explains proper passing laws. Under Part Five: Rules of the Road section pertaining to School Bus on page 32 the manual reads “Whenever you approach a school bus from any direction, which has stopped to pick up or let off passengers while operating its flashing red lights, you must stop your vehicle at least 25 feet from the school bus.”

While the association works to educate other motorist about the law, they currently provide bus drivers and members of the community the tools to report any illegal passings on their website, https://www.nhsta.org/index, under their Operation Safe Stop section of their homepage.

If an illegal passing is observed, witnesses can report it to the police who will then monitor the area.

Rauseo said he is already aware of a couple of places that have been monitored. To his knowledge, most drivers are pleading ignorance upon being stopped for passing a bus unlawfully, which stands as one reason why it is so difficult to stop to the problem.

“We collect data and we give that to the police and they monitor it for 30 days,” Rauseo said. “What they’ve found out so far is a lot of drivers didn’t know that you couldn’t pass a bus.”

“It’s not an easy fix,” he added.