Many of us use Highway 99 every day, whether for a school run across town or a weekend drive up the corridor. That routine can make us confident—maybe a little too confident—about how familiar roads are. A recent report from a local resident who encountered a driver travelling the wrong way is a reminder that small mistakes on fast-moving routes can escalate quickly. While these incidents are uncommon, they carry a high risk of severe, head-on crashes. It’s a timely cue for Squamish to revisit how we prevent wrong-way entry, how we respond when it happens, and what steps could further reduce the risk on Highway 99 and nearby connectors.
Highway 99 through Squamish is part of the provincial network, managed by the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI). The District of Squamish looks after municipal streets, while the Squamish RCMP responds to reports of dangerous driving across both jurisdictions. We have requested comment from MOTI and Squamish RCMP about the recent wrong-way encounter and whether any specific changes are being considered locally. If additional details are provided, we will share them with readers.
Wrong-way events can happen when a driver mistakenly enters a one-way ramp or turns into the opposing lanes from a complex intersection or driveway. Confusing sightlines, night driving, poor weather, faded markings, or missed signage all play a role in the broader risk picture. Visitor traffic adds another layer: many Sea to Sky visitors are navigating unfamiliar roads, sometimes at dusk or in rain, and are more likely to rely on GPS prompts that don’t always capture on-the-ground cues like a no-entry island or a turn restriction in a commercial access.
Across British Columbia, MOTI’s standard toolkit to discourage wrong-way driving includes “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs placed to the left and right of potential entry points, high-contrast pavement arrows, lane separators or channelizing islands, reflective delineators, rumble strips, and regular line-painting. In locations with a history of confusion, agencies sometimes enhance signage with larger panels, additional reflectivity, or illumination to improve visibility at night and in wet conditions. These measures follow national guidance set by the Transportation Association of Canada and are applied based on local conditions and observed risk. It’s worth noting that Highway 99 has seen significant safety work over the years, from alignment improvements to better sightlines and shoulders in several sections of the Sea to Sky corridor.
Provincially, ICBC data shows that wrong-way collisions represent a small percentage of total crashes but are frequently severe because they tend to become head-on impacts at highway speeds. Speed, impairment, and inattention are common risk factors in serious collisions more broadly. This is why provincial and local enforcement remains a staple of prevention. Each summer and winter, BC RCMP runs CounterAttack impaired driving campaigns across the province, and targeted speed enforcement is routine on Highway 99. These efforts can help lower the odds that a momentary mistake turns catastrophic.
There are also practical, low-cost steps that communities can take when concerns surface. A focused signage and pavement-marking review near highway on- and off-ramps, and at complex commercial driveways close to Highway 99, can identify faded paint, vegetation that partially obstructs signs, or channelization that could be clearer. Even small additions—such as a second “Do Not Enter” sign placed lower for drivers scanning close to the ground, or refreshed directional arrows where a driveway meets a one-way aisle—can make a difference. After-dark checkups are especially important in our climate; visibility at night and in rain is when drivers most need strong cues.
Local experience matters here. Residents often know where things feel confusing: an off-ramp that looks like an on-ramp from one angle, a driveway that opens near an intersection, or an access road where dusk lighting makes centre lines hard to read. While Highway 99 is provincial, the District regularly coordinates with MOTI on safety feedback gathered from the community. Clear, specific reports—date, time, direction of travel, exact location and landmarks—help engineers pinpoint what a driver likely saw and decide whether adjustments are warranted.
If you ever encounter what appears to be a wrong-way vehicle, the guidance is straightforward. Prioritize your own safety first: slow down, move right, and pull well off the roadway if you can do so safely. Do not attempt to stop or redirect the other driver. When safe, call 911, provide as much detail as possible about the location, travel direction, vehicle description and plate if visible, and let police manage the response. If you have a dashcam, preserve the video and contact the RCMP detachment afterward to share it; footage can help officers confirm what occurred and where. This approach aligns with standard police advice in BC for dangerous driving reports.
Education and awareness also have a role. Squamish has a growing number of new residents and regular visitors who may be unfamiliar with local access points. Seasonal reminders—shared through community channels, visitor centres, trailhead information boards, and accommodation partners—can prompt people to slow down near interchanges, scan for “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs, and double-check directions before committing to a turn. These messages pair well with broader road safety themes that are already part of BC’s public campaigns: don’t drive impaired, minimize distractions, and reduce speed in uncertainty.
For the highway itself, an action list that fits our context could include: a joint MOTI–District review of the most complex on- and off-ramps through town; a check of signage placement, height, and reflectivity, especially where commercial driveways sit near the highway; fresh pavement arrows and stop bars where needed; and consideration of additional channelization or delineators at entries that might be mistaken for live lanes in poor light. None of these steps require speculative assumptions about the recent report; they are good housekeeping measures on any busy corridor and can be prioritized using maintenance inspections and collision history.
As a community, we can hold two ideas at once: wrong-way driving is rare on Highway 99, and we should maintain the systems that keep it that way. That means reporting hazards when we see them, supporting periodic signage and marking audits, and reinforcing the basics—drive sober, look twice before turning, and slow down when something doesn’t look right. It also means giving engineers and enforcement agencies the time and information they need to assess a location and decide on the right fix.
We have asked Squamish RCMP if any investigation is underway related to the recent wrong-way report and whether they have operational advice to share with local drivers at this time. We have also asked MOTI whether any signage or delineation reviews are planned in and around Highway 99 access points through Squamish. When those responses arrive, we will update this story.
For immediate road condition updates, DriveBC remains the province’s official traveller information source. For non-emergency road maintenance concerns on Highway 99, residents can contact the corridor’s highway maintenance contractor through the contact information listed on DriveBC and the MOTI website. For concerns on District-managed streets, reach out to the District of Squamish through its public works and transportation channels. And as always, call 911 to report dangerous driving in progress.
We will continue to follow this file and share confirmed details on any safety measures emerging from provincial or local reviews.
