Ron Bellanti is not waiting for another teen-ager to die before he gets involved in Derry's fight against irresponsible driving.

Bellanti, founder of Arrive Alive -a non-profit agency based in Lawrence, Mass., dedicated to preventing teen-age drunk driving -has joined the community efford to find ways to stop the tragedies.

A community task force, initiated by Parkland Medical Center emergency room Director Dr. Joseph Sabato, recently formed in the wake of five fatal car crashes in Derry involving teen-agers. The task force, which first met Jan. 17, consists of area police and fire officials, emergency medical staff, educators, local state legislators and members of the legal community. (Related story, Page 2.)

"I've never seen a more influential group of people with such dedication toward solving this problem," Bellanti said this week. "My main reason for wanting to get involved with this is two-fold. Number one, it's what our organization does. But more than that was seeing the people at that first meeting and how emotional they were regarding the issue of kids getting killed in their community."

While the schools, hospitals, police and fire departments all must serve many varied and vital functions, Bellanti said his agency operates under the sole mandate of helping the area's children and young people stay alive.

"We're not looking to come in and take over," said Bellanti, who has worked as a concert promoter.

He was motivated to start Arrive Alive in 1989 after he witnessed the death of a 15-year-old girl, who was thrown hundreds of yards when the pickup truck she was riding in collided with another car in a parking lot after a concert.

Although most of the recent crashes in Derry have not been related to alcohol, Bellanti said there is a visible problem.

"It isn't in the drinking water," he said. "There's obviously something going wrong here."

With support from parents and community leaders, Bellanti is confident he can make a difference.

Arrive Alive has already started compiling a booklet for parents. The booklet, "You Have the Power," will present ways to deal with young drivers and review laws, seatbelt facts, DWI facts, injury and fatality statistics, speed and insurance liability.

"We want parents to realize just how much say they have over their kids and the way they act in the car," Bellanti said.

In addition, Bellanti hopes to hold a walk-a-thon in Derry in May, just before graduation and prom season when more teen-age car crashes historically occur. Bellanti said the walk-a-thon would act as a great community involvement tool, raising both awareness and expectations. It would also be an excellent fund-raising tool to pay for further events, promotions and educational programs, he said.

Bellanti said he wants to tie in with the walk-a-thon a simulated car crash and a concert at Pinkerton, which would feature an up-and-coming band that signs about issues today's teens are facing. Bellanti's philosophy is "education through impact."

"This could be the single galvanizing event that can get everyone in town aware," Bellanti said, adding that he's already scheduled "The Common Walk For Life" in Lawrence, Mass., on April 27, which will raise funds for anti-drinking and driving programs and promotions in the Merrimack Valley. Bellanti has received support from the mayor of Lawrence and the city's police department.

Since Arrive Alive began, Bellanti has promoted anti-drinking and driving concerts in Portsmouth, Manchester, and Amesbury, Mass. One of the featured bands was a Londonderry band, "New England Rocks."

Pinkerton spokesman Robin Perrin said the academy is waiting to learn more about Bellanti's agency before it decides to support the programs he has proposed.

"It sounds like we can certainly use his expertise and his experience, but we have to find out what resources we'll have to expend to get them," Perrin said, adding that Arrive Alive is not yet certified in New Hampshire.

Bellanti said he would also like to open an Arrive Alive office in Derry, which would serve as a central coordination site for auto safety programs.