Squamish residents are talking about road safety again after a local resident recently experienced a wrong-way driving incident. While events like this are uncommon, they can be catastrophic, and they remind us that safety on Highway 99 is a shared responsibility among drivers, the community, police, and the provincial transportation ministry. The focus now is on what can be done—practically and promptly—to reduce the risk of a repeat.
Highway 99 is the Sea to Sky’s main artery and falls under the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. The corridor saw major upgrades ahead of the 2010 Winter Olympics, including wider shoulders, barrier and guardrail improvements, passing lanes, and better signage. Those changes contributed to safer travel overall. At the same time, volumes have grown in recent years with population, tourism, and regional commuting, which means more complex traffic at key access points in and around Squamish, especially on weekends and holidays. In busy conditions and low light, it doesn’t take much—unclear lane guidance, a missed sign, or driver impairment—for a rare but high-risk error like a wrong-way entry to occur.
Wrong-way driving is one of the most dangerous situations on any highway because it creates the potential for head-on collisions at speed. Provincial and national road-safety research consistently shows that speed, impairment, and distraction are leading factors in serious and fatal collisions in B.C. Those risks are magnified when a driver unintentionally or unlawfully enters a highway in the wrong direction. The combination of geometry at ramp terminals, limited nighttime visibility, and driver decision-making all play a role.
The Ministry follows national standards for signs and pavement markings and typically places “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs at highway off-ramps, along with directional arrows on the pavement. On the Sea to Sky, most sections also include rumble strips and highly reflective markings to support nighttime and wet-weather visibility. When incidents are reported, the Ministry can undertake site-specific reviews to see whether changes such as additional signage at driver eye height, larger sign panels, improved lighting, or revised pavement arrows would help. Squamish residents have raised questions in the past about how well some exits read in the dark, the visual clutter that can distract at busy intersections, and the need for clearer cues in heavy rain. Those are exactly the types of issues a focused review can examine.
On the enforcement front, the RCMP’s BC Highway Patrol provides regular coverage along Highway 99, with seasonal emphasis on impaired, aggressive, and distracted driving. CounterAttack impaired driving campaigns run in summer and winter across B.C., including in the Sea to Sky. Police encourage anyone who encounters an immediate hazard—such as a suspected impaired driver or a vehicle travelling the wrong way—to call 911 as soon as it is safe to do so, and to provide clear location details, direction of travel, a vehicle description, and a licence plate if possible. We have asked BC Highway Patrol for any current advisories related to wrong-way incidents on the corridor; an update will be shared once available.
For drivers, there are practical steps that reduce the chance of confusion at complex access points. Approach highway ramps at a speed that allows time to read all signs and road markings. At night or in heavy rain, use extra caution and look for the basic cues: yellow lines indicate the centre of a two-way road; white lines typically separate lanes travelling in the same direction; and directional arrows on the pavement will confirm lane direction at ramp terminals. If something doesn’t look right—such as a “Do Not Enter” sign in front of you—stop and reassess before proceeding. If you ever encounter a vehicle travelling toward you, slow immediately, move as far to the right as safely possible, and call 911 when it’s safe to do so. Do not attempt to stop or confront the other driver yourself.
Local input matters, particularly at access points that serve downtown, Garibaldi Estates, and the Alice Lake area. Residents who notice recurring confusion—say, at a specific ramp during low light—or damaged or obstructed signs can report it. For concerns on municipal roads that feed the highway, residents can contact the District of Squamish through its service request system. For issues at highway ramps and along Highway 99, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is the responsible agency. Clear, consistent reporting helps flag locations for review.
From an engineering perspective, there are several low-cost measures the Ministry can evaluate if a location shows higher potential for wrong-way entries. These include placing a second set of “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs lower to the ground where headlights illuminate them, using oversized signs at complex ramp terminals, adding red reflective strips to the backs of stop signs (so an entering driver sees a bright red face if travelling the wrong way), upgrading pavement arrows and lane-use markings, adding flexible delineator posts to physically guide turns, improving lighting, and trimming vegetation that blocks sightlines. Where warranted, agencies elsewhere have also piloted wrong-way detection systems with sensors and flashing beacons to alert drivers and prompt a police response. Whether those are appropriate at any Squamish location would depend on a technical assessment of the site and collision history.
Education and reminders can make a difference, too. A short, locally tailored awareness push—on municipal and community channels—about reading ramp signage, slowing to scan at night, and calling 911 when faced with an immediate hazard would help keep the topic front of mind without creating alarm. Schools, employers with shift workers who travel after dark, and community groups can share simple tip sheets. Given our region’s mix of longtime residents, newcomers, and visitors unfamiliar with the Sea to Sky, a plain-language refresher goes a long way.
It’s also worth acknowledging that the Sea to Sky corridor is shared by all kinds of road users—commercial trucks, commuters, tourists towing trailers, cyclists on parallel routes—and that a cautious, courteous approach benefits everyone. While the highway’s design and enforcement set the baseline for safety, the daily choices we make behind the wheel determine what happens in the moments that matter most. Maintaining safe speeds, staying sober, and eliminating distractions are still the strongest defences against serious crashes in B.C., according to provincial and insurer data.
As of today, formal comment from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and BC Highway Patrol specific to this recent wrong-way report is pending. We have asked whether a signage and lighting review will be considered at key Squamish access points along Highway 99, and whether any corridor-wide countermeasures are being planned. We will share those details as soon as they are confirmed.
In the meantime, residents can report highway signage or ramp concerns to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and municipal issues to the District of Squamish. For immediate hazards on the road, call 911. For ongoing road-safety programs and enforcement updates, follow BC Highway Patrol and the Ministry’s channels. Squamish Blog will continue to track this issue and provide updates if reviews or safety improvements are initiated.
Editor’s note: Official responses from the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and the RCMP’s BC Highway Patrol are pending. We’ll update readers with confirmed information, including any planned safety reviews or changes, as soon as it’s available.
