When a wrong-way driver turns up on our roads, it shakes confidence for everyone who calls Squamish home. Even if no one is hurt, an incident like this is a reminder that highway access points, signage, and everyday driving decisions all add up to community safety. With Highway 99 running through town and local traffic growing, residents are asking a simple question: what more can be done, together, to prevent the next close call?
A local resident recently experienced a wrong-way driving incident in Squamish. Details about the circumstances, location, and any enforcement outcomes have not been released by police as of publication. We have requested confirmation from RCMP and BC Highway Patrol; updates will be shared when official information is available.
The absence of confirmed details hasn’t stopped the conversation. Wrong-way events are relatively uncommon, but they are among the most dangerous types of driving errors. They often occur at or near highway ramps and divided roadways, especially in poor visibility or when drivers are impaired or distracted. For Squamish, that means continued attention on how drivers enter and exit Highway 99, and how local streets connect to the highway system.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) is responsible for Highway 99, including signage and markings at highway access points in and around Squamish. Across B.C., the ministry uses a range of standard countermeasures to reduce wrong-way risks, such as “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs at freeway ramps, prominent stop bars, directional arrows on the pavement, reflective markers, and oversize or lowered signs so they are easier to see at night or in heavy rain. After reported incidents, MOTI can conduct targeted reviews to assess whether additional or larger signs, lighting adjustments, or pavement mark refreshes are warranted.
Local residents often ask what’s already in place along the Sea to Sky. Since the upgrades made prior to the 2010 Winter Games, Highway 99 has benefited from alignment improvements, median protection in key sections, added passing lanes, rockfall protection, rumble strips, and better signage. Those steps have made the corridor safer over time, but they also rely on drivers following the signs and staying alert—especially at highway ramps and intersections where local traffic meets high-speed through traffic.
Enforcement is the other piece. RCMP—through BC Highway Patrol and local officers—runs ongoing traffic safety initiatives in the corridor, with extra attention on impaired and distracted driving. Seasonal campaigns such as impaired driving CounterAttack, school zone enforcement in September, and the year-round focus on seatbelts and speed are part of the routine. In the context of a wrong-way report, police can also increase patrols in the area, watch for signs of impairment, and lay charges where warranted under the Motor Vehicle Act or the Criminal Code.
Residents can play a practical role. If you encounter a vehicle traveling the wrong way and there is an immediate risk to life or safety, call 911. When it’s safe to do so, note the location, direction of travel, vehicle description, and any plate information to pass along to dispatch. Non-emergency concerns or near-miss reports can be directed to local RCMP or BC Highway Patrol so patterns can be tracked and specific locations reviewed. Clear, consistent reporting helps transportation officials and police prioritize improvements and enforcement in the right places.
Close calls also prompt a look at the basics of road design and driver navigation. On the design side, common-sense fixes can make a difference: fresh and highly visible pavement arrows at highway on-ramps, lighting that improves sign visibility during rain and winter darkness, and reflective treatments that cue drivers they’re approaching a divided roadway. On the driver side, the solutions are familiar but essential—reducing speed, avoiding distractions, and approaching confusing intersections with caution.
Within municipal limits, the District of Squamish can review signage and markings on local streets that connect to Highway 99 and make recommendations to MOTI where a provincial adjustment may help at an interface. The District can also look at features that reinforce correct lane choice and slower speeds on municipal roads, such as refreshed centre lines, added directional arrows, speed feedback signs, or improved lighting in problem areas. While the highway itself is provincial jurisdiction, the transitions to and from the highway are shared spaces where municipal and provincial coordination matters.
Community input is part of that coordination. Residents who regularly use the same ramps and intersections know where visibility drops in heavy rain, where pavement markings fade faster, or where visitors may become confused by lane splits. Passing those observations to the District and MOTI—ideally with photos and times of day—helps build the case for small, targeted fixes that reduce risk. It’s the same idea behind safety audits: a careful look at how real people use the road can uncover simple improvements with outsized impact.
Education campaigns also have a place. Provincial partners, including ICBC and police, routinely highlight impaired and distracted driving risks, winter tire requirements, and safe merging. A local emphasis on highway ramp etiquette—slowing down enough to read and follow signage, using proper lanes, and avoiding last-second decisions—could be a helpful reminder as Squamish continues to grow and welcomes more visitors unfamiliar with the Sea to Sky Highway.
It’s worth acknowledging that not every wrong-way incident stems from the same cause. Weather, lighting, confusing geometry, fatigue, impairment, or simple inattention can all play a role. A balanced response recognizes that improving safety means addressing each of those elements—better visibility through clear signs and markings; consistent enforcement that deters high-risk behaviour; and a shared commitment from drivers to take an extra moment before entering a high-speed roadway.
For now, official comment on the recent wrong-way report is pending. We will update readers as we receive confirmed information from RCMP and MOTI about any investigation, enforcement action, or site reviews. In the meantime, residents who have concerns about specific locations can contact the District of Squamish for municipal road issues and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for provincial highway locations. If there is an immediate risk on the road, call 911. The Ministry of Transportation has processes to review signage, markings, and lighting where needed, and those reviews can be triggered by documented reports. We will share further updates as they become available from the responsible agencies.
