For the Antigo Times

THE REF (Transportable High-End Rider Education Facility) operated by the Wisconsin Motorcycle Safety Program will participate in the Antigo High School Health and Safety Fair on Thursday, March 16, 2017.

Built with federal funding, the 40-foot-long REF trailer is more than just a classroom; it is an interactive learning environment for both riders and non-riders to learn more about sharing the road, crash avoidance and awareness of traffic and road hazards.  To see THE REF, visit the web at http://www.zeroinwisconsin.gov/TheREF/Default.asp.

Media are invited to tour THE REF and try out its state-of-the-art features.

• WHEN:  Thursday, March 16, 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• WHERE: Antigo High School, 1900 Tenth Avenue, Antigo, Wisconsin

THE REF features include:

• Two SMARTrainers (Safe Motorcyclist Awareness and Recognition Trainers) that are traffic simulators designed to give riders a real-world experience riding in traffic and on public roads.
• Touch screen monitors for testing knowledge of motorcycle safety.
• Use of fatal vision googles that simulate alcohol impairment and its effects on vision, reaction time and judgment.

THE REF and other Wisconsin Motorcycle Safety Program rider-training initiatives are designed to save lives and reduce injuries among all motorcyclists—from beginners to experts.