Before teens are handed the keys, it is important for parents to make sure their children have learned the necessary skills to help them be responsible drivers. With this in mind, the Coastal Health District and Pembroke Police Department have announced they will be offering parents and teens a free course in driver safety on Thursday, Nov. 1.

The program, Georgia Teens Ride with P.R.I.D.E. (Parents Reducing Incidents of Driver Error), is geared to help prepare teens for a lifetime of safe driving.

"This is hopefully the beginning of more sessions in Bryan County. We were looking at Homecoming and Prom seasons to do these," said Cristina Gibson, director of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention with the Coastal Health District.

Pembroke Police Chief Billy Collins said a similar class was held last year.

"I think this is one of the most informative classes a teen and their parent can take," Collins said. "I think this class is really the only way for the parents to get the correct information for what they need to do to help their child get a drivers license."

The P.R.I.D.E. course is a free two-hour session designed to help parents and new drivers ages 14-16. You can register for the course until Thursday afternoon, by calling 644-5209 or going online at gachd.org. The course is Thursday evening from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church’s Social Hall, located at 185 Poplar Street in Pembroke.