Many of us travel Highway 99 every week, whether it’s to commute, shop in town, or head farther up the corridor. That familiarity can make it easy to forget how quickly a simple mistake can turn dangerous. A local resident recently experienced a wrong-way driving incident near Squamish. While further details are still being clarified, the report has put a spotlight on an issue that matters to every family here: how we keep people safe on a busy highway that mixes local trips, tourist traffic, heavy vehicles, and changing weather.
Wrong-way incidents are uncommon, but they are treated as urgent because they can lead to high‑speed, head‑on collisions. That is why law enforcement and road agencies typically respond to these calls as a priority. Squamish RCMP and BC Highway Patrol have been asked for comment on this reported incident and on any immediate follow‑up; an update will be shared once it is confirmed by officials.
The discussion this week is really about prevention. On Highway 99, responsibilities are shared. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) designs, operates, and maintains the highway, including signage, lighting, and line markings. BC Highway Patrol (RCMP) leads enforcement on provincial highways, with local Squamish RCMP supporting operations where needed. The District of Squamish manages municipal streets that feed into the highway and liaises with the Province on corridor issues within town boundaries. When a wrong-way report surfaces, it’s usually an opportunity for all three to take another look: Is signage as clear as it could be at the relevant approach? Are the pavement arrows and lines bright at night and in rain? Are lighting and sightlines adequate? Are there patterns of driver confusion that point to a design tweak or an education gap?
Much of Highway 99 through Squamish is not a controlled-access freeway. It includes traffic signals, turn lanes, and at‑grade intersections alongside stretches that feel like a divided highway. That mix can be confusing for unfamiliar drivers, especially after dark, in heavy rain, or when snowbanks or headlight glare complicate wayfinding. During spring and summer, the corridor also sees more visitors and recreational traffic, which means more people on the road who may be navigating the area for the first time.
Over the years, the Province has made substantial safety upgrades to the Sea to Sky corridor, particularly before the 2010 Winter Olympics. Curves were re‑engineered, barriers and guardrails were added in higher‑risk sections, and sightlines improved. Within Squamish, MOTI and the District have continued to adjust signals, add turn bays, refresh markings, and install new signs as development brings more local trips to the highway. Even with those upgrades, collision risk never disappears. Factors like speed, impairment, distraction, and lane departures continue to show up in crash patterns across B.C., and wrong-way entries—though rare—are treated with special urgency because of the severity they can entail.
The measures used to prevent wrong-way entries are not complicated, but they must be visible and consistent. They include larger “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs facing the opposing direction at ramps and intersections, clear pavement arrows, reflective delineators, and adequate lighting where space and power are available. In some locations, agencies also use rumble strips, channelization islands, or other features to make it obvious which side of a divided roadway is intended for which direction of travel. These tools are guided by provincial and national standards and are periodically reviewed as conditions change. MOTI has been asked whether the location connected to the recent report will receive a signage and markings check; we will share the Ministry’s response when it is available.
Local perspectives add important context. Residents often point out that faded lines, weathered signs, or low evening contrast can make decision‑making harder. Professional drivers note that ramp terminals approached at odd angles can confuse motorists who are scanning for an address, a trailhead, or a turn. And parents routinely ask what to teach new drivers about staying safe on a highway that can feel urban and rural within the same five minutes. These observations are not blame—they are practical cues about where small changes can help prevent big problems.
Enforcement and education also matter. BC Highway Patrol runs seasonal campaigns focused on impaired and high‑risk driving, alongside year‑round enforcement for speed, seatbelts, and distraction. Those efforts don’t directly eliminate a wrong-way error, but they reduce the chance that a simple mistake turns catastrophic. The more motorists are driving sober, scanning properly, and travelling at reasonable speeds, the more time there is for everyone to react safely if something unexpected happens ahead.
There are also steps each of us can take, and they’re straightforward. If you encounter or suspect a wrong-way driver, police advise you to reduce speed, move as far to the right as safely possible, and call 911 when you can do so from a safe, stopped location. Do not attempt to stop or confront another driver on the highway. If you realize that you have turned the wrong way onto a divided roadway, pull over immediately to the right shoulder, stop, and use your hazard lights. When it is safe, turn around only as directed, or await assistance. For those new to the corridor—or to highway driving—planning the route ahead of time, avoiding last‑second lane changes, and using pullouts to check maps can prevent hasty turns that create confusion.
When residents see an issue that could contribute to driver error—such as a damaged sign, obscured sightline, or faded line marking—there are practical channels to report it. For provincial highways, concerns can be sent through DriveBC’s “Report a highway problem” portal or by contacting the highway maintenance contractor listed on roadside signs. For local streets, the District of Squamish accepts service requests through its customer service channels. For an immediate hazard, always call 911.
Looking ahead, there are a few constructive next steps local agencies and the community can consider together. First, a focused signage and pavement-marking audit at key ramp terminals and divided segments in and around Squamish—particularly those used frequently by visitors—would help identify any low-contrast or confusing approaches. Second, targeted lighting or delineation improvements at locations with complex geometry or limited night visibility could make the intended path more obvious. Third, a short seasonal awareness push as traffic volumes rise—reinforcing safe merging, lane discipline, and what to do if a driver encounters a wrong‑way situation—would support both residents and visitors. Finally, continued coordination among MOTI, BC Highway Patrol, and the District to share resident reports and near‑miss patterns can help prioritize fixes before a collision happens.
None of these steps replaces personal responsibility behind the wheel. But together, design, maintenance, enforcement, and education create layers of protection. Our community has a long history of working with provincial partners to make the Sea to Sky safer, one change at a time. When an incident reminds us that the margin for error can be thin, it’s a good time to check the basics and close any small gaps that could make the difference.
Official comment from Squamish RCMP, BC Highway Patrol, and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure on this reported wrong-way incident is pending. We will update readers as soon as information is confirmed. In the meantime, residents can report urgent driving hazards to 911, non‑urgent highway maintenance issues via DriveBC’s “Report a highway problem,” and local street concerns through the District of Squamish’s customer service channels.
If MOTI confirms a review of signage and pavement markings at the location in question, we will share details and timelines for any improvements. For broader highway updates, DriveBC remains the province’s primary source for current conditions and advisories.
