IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif. -- The San Diego Sheriff's Office says many people get together with families or go out for a drink during the holiday season, so they're just one organization partnering with the Institute of Public Strategies to remind people in Imperial Beach on Friday night about the dangers of driving under the influence. While the sheriff's office says they arrest people for DUIs throughout the day, they typically see a hike in those cases from 6 p.m. until the early morning hours after bars close. If you're not careful, they say anyone could be involved in an alcohol or drug-related crash this holiday season just like Paul Dawson who was enjoying a casual night out with a friend at a bowling alley. “I think maybe three to four drinks over the entirety, and we were there for about two hours, so maybe double what I’m supposed to be doing," Dawson said. The drive home on his motorcycle nearly cost his life. “I remember mentally checking myself and making sure that I was good to ride, and what ended up happening is we got about, I’d say, a quarter mile down the road, and from there I have no memory.” He says bystanders saw him hit a tree and fly close to 60 feet and 45 mph. He spent two weeks in the hospital and nearly a year regaining function in his right arm. Now, he sits on a panel alongside other community partners to warn San Diegans about the dangers of driving under the influence. “It doesn’t take much to be legally impaired,” Lt. Al Gathings with the San Diego Sheriff's Office said, but it's not just drivers who need to be careful. Pedestrians also face a serious risk. So far in 2024, 22 pedestrians died in crashes in San Diego, according to the San Diego Police Department. That number is lower than the last two years, and Gathings hopes to keep it that way. “People who are drinking, they often times don’t see people walking in crosswalks or they may or may not see people who are standing legally on sidewalks, waiting for the right of way," Gathings said. He suggest people look out for drivers without their lights on, someone stopped at a green light, and a driver swerving or speeding between lanes. He says all of these are signs someone may be driving impaired. “I love coming into the South Bay because most of the DUIs in the South Bay come out of residences,” Marian Novak said. Novak works with the Responsible Hospitality Coalition of San Diego County, an organization that partners with local bars and restaurants to prevent them from overserving customers. The California Office of Traffic Safety Reports in 2021, 1,370 were killed in alcohol-involved crashes, making up almost a third of traffic deaths in California, so even if you are just headed down the road, it's better to set up a ride if you plan to drink. “Plan ahead. I would say particularly, if you’re going to go to a residence, don’t go anywhere you can’t sleep,” Gathings said. As for Dawson, he says his experience opened his eyes and he's doing his part to warn others to stay safe. “If you’re going to drink, it’s pretty simple," Dawson said. "You don’t drive. You get an Uber. I mean an Uber is a lot cheaper than a DUI.” If you're arrested for a DUI, it could cost you up to $1,000 in fines and could add up to $5,000 and potentially jail time if there's an injury.