COLUMBIA--The House Education Committee approved a bill Tuesday that would clarify laws to protect students getting on or off school buses.

The bill would require buses to pick up and unload students only on the right side of roads that have two or more lanes traveling in each direction. That way students would not have to cross the highway.

If the bus driver sees students crossing the highway, the school could penalize the students.

"One of the intents of this law is to simplify things, to protect these kids, to assure us they will be getting off on the right side of the highway," said Highway Patrol Capt. George Blackwell.

The bill also clarifies current laws to let drivers know when they should stop for buses.

Most people think they do not have to stop on a four-lane road without a median because of the way the current law is written, said Donald Tudor, transportation director for the Education Department.