Squamish relies on Highway 99 every day—for work, school, errands, and weekend trips. When a vehicle travels the wrong way on a high‑speed road, even for a short time, it puts everyone at risk. A recent wrong‑way driving incident reported by a local resident has renewed community conversation about what keeps us safe on the Sea to Sky and how we can strengthen those safeguards together.
At the time of publication, official details about the recent incident, including any enforcement outcomes, have not been released. Sea to Sky RCMP is the lead for investigating dangerous driving reports on Highway 99, and we have requested comment. We will share updates once confirmed.
While wrong‑way events are relatively rare compared to other crashes, their consequences can be severe. Highway 99 through Squamish carries a mix of local commuters, commercial trucks, and visitors who may be unfamiliar with interchanges, especially in poor weather or at night. Confusing wayfinding, missed turns, and quick corrective manoeuvres can create situations where a driver mistakenly enters an off‑ramp or crosses into opposing traffic. That’s why the basics—clear signs, visible pavement markings, simple ramp geometry, and steady enforcement—matter so much.
Responsibility for safety on and around the highway is shared. The BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) owns and operates Highway 99, including on‑ and off‑ramps. The District of Squamish looks after municipal roads and works with MOTI where local streets connect to the highway. The RCMP provides enforcement throughout the corridor. When a wrong‑way report comes in, RCMP can respond and, when needed, coordinate lane closures and alerts with MOTI and DriveBC to warn other road users.
Many of the standard safeguards are already in place. MOTI uses Transport Association of Canada–compliant “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs at ramp terminals, along with directional arrows painted on the pavement. Reflective materials and oversized signs are applied at locations where visibility or driver workload is a concern. On Highway 99, electronic message boards can display incident warnings, and regular maintenance includes re‑painting markings after harsh winter conditions. On long stretches without median barriers, centreline and shoulder rumble strips help alert distracted or drifting drivers. Through the colder months, winter tires or chains are required on the Sea to Sky between October 1 and April 30, and RCMP and Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement officers conduct seasonal checks. All of these pieces aim to reduce the chance of a driver making a wrong turn—and to limit the harm if they do.
Even with these measures, residents often raise practical questions after a near‑miss or a confusing ramp encounter: Are the signs big and bright enough after dark or in heavy rain? Do pavement arrows still stand out late in the season? Is vegetation blocking a sightline? Are GPS directions steering unfamiliar drivers into last‑second lane changes? These are the kinds of local details that can make an immediate difference, and they are usually solvable with targeted maintenance, minor design tweaks, or better communication.
There are several low‑cost, high‑impact steps that communities and transportation agencies across BC have used to curb wrong‑way entries. These include larger “Wrong Way” and “Do Not Enter” signs placed at drivers’ eye level, extra reflective borders that improve night‑time visibility, and additional pavement arrows at the throat of a ramp. Channelization—using curbs, delineators, or median islands—can help guide turning vehicles into the correct lane and make a wrong‑way move physically awkward. Fresh, high‑contrast paint, especially at the end of winter, is a simple fix that reduces confusion. At higher‑risk ramps, some jurisdictions add solar‑powered flashing beacons triggered by a vehicle travelling the wrong way, which both alerts the driver and cues nearby motorists to slow down. While not every location needs every tool, a focused review can match the right measure to the local conditions.
Enforcement and education are the other half of the picture. Sea to Sky RCMP and ICBC run regular campaigns targeting impaired, distracted, and aggressive driving. Experience shows that clear, predictable enforcement—particularly on busy weekends and evenings—encourages better lane discipline and calmer merging at interchanges. Public reminders timed to the seasons can also help, whether it’s a winter tire check in the fall, a spring refresher on sharing the road with cyclists, or a summer message about planning routes before setting out so you’re not relying on last‑second GPS prompts.
Closer to home, there are a few practical actions that align with provincial guidance and complement what agencies are doing. If you witness a vehicle travelling the wrong way or posing an immediate threat, call 911 as soon as it is safe to do so and be ready to share the location, direction of travel, and vehicle description. For non‑urgent concerns—such as a faded arrow, a hidden sign, or confusing lane markings—residents can submit a service request to the District for municipal roads or contact MOTI for highway issues. DriveBC provides construction updates and incident advisories for Highway 99; checking those alerts before a trip can reduce surprises that sometimes lead to sudden, risky decisions behind the wheel.
It’s also worth remembering how everyday driving habits contribute to the overall safety culture that prevents rare events from becoming serious crashes. Give yourself a little extra time so you’re not rushing complex merges. If you miss an exit, carry on to the next one rather than attempting a last‑second turn. In rain or snow, slow down and use headlights to make your vehicle more visible to others. At night, watch for visual cues—such as the red backs of traffic signs—which can signal you’re facing the wrong direction. None of these are new ideas; together, they reduce the swirl of last‑moment choices that can lead to a wrong‑way entry.
For its part, the District of Squamish can help convene a focused conversation that includes residents, the Sea to Sky RCMP, and MOTI staff, with attention to ramps that serve busy commercial areas and neighbourhood connections. A quick signage and pavement audit ahead of peak spring and summer travel is a practical next step. If needed, temporary message boards can reinforce wayfinding during construction or events that change typical traffic patterns. Sharing clear, consistent safety messages through local channels—schools, employers, community groups—ensures they reach both long‑time residents and newcomers who are still learning the routes.
Highway 99 has seen significant investment over the years, from geometry changes to guardrails and shoulder improvements. Those upgrades have made a difference. Still, traffic volumes have grown, weather remains unpredictable, and the mix of local and visitor traffic continues to challenge driver attention. That is why small, steady improvements—fresh paint, routine vegetation trimming, better sign placement at the right height, and data‑informed enforcement—are so valuable. They add up to a safer corridor without waiting for major capital projects.
Squamish has a strong record of turning concern into action, and road safety is no exception. The recent wrong‑way report is a reminder to keep at it: speak up when you see a problem, support targeted fixes, and keep modelling the habits that make our roads predictable for everyone. As agencies review this latest incident, we’ll share what comes next and how residents can contribute.
Official updates on incidents and highway conditions will come from Sea to Sky RCMP and DriveBC. For questions about highway signage or ramp design, contact the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. Municipal road and signage concerns can be submitted through the District of Squamish’s service request channels. We have asked the Ministry whether a localized signage and pavement‑marking review is planned for the Squamish area; comment is pending. We will provide verified information as it becomes available.
If you have specific safety observations to share—such as a sign that’s hard to see at night or markings that need attention—please include the exact location and time of day when you report it. That kind of detail helps maintenance crews and engineers zero in on solutions quickly, and it keeps Highway 99 working for everyone who depends on it.
