Squamish relies on Highway 99 every day—for school drop-offs, commutes to the Lower Mainland, weekend trips to Whistler, and everything in between. That is why any report of wrong-way driving, even if rare, matters to our community. A local resident recently experienced a wrong-way driving incident near Squamish, and while details are limited, the reminder is clear: the margin for error on a high-speed corridor is small, and prevention is where we can make the biggest difference.
Highway 99 through the Sea to Sky is a provincial highway overseen by the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. The corridor was significantly upgraded before the 2010 Olympics to improve safety and reliability, with wider shoulders, improved sightlines, new median protection in select sections, and new signage. Despite those improvements, the corridor continues to carry a mix of local, commuter, freight, and visitor traffic, and its curves, changing weather, and variable light conditions can challenge even experienced drivers. Wrong-way events remain uncommon but high-risk on any divided highway; when they do occur, the consequences can be severe.
RCMP across BC, including BC Highway Patrol and local detachments such as Squamish RCMP, routinely emphasise the leading factors that elevate collision risk: impairment, excessive speed, distraction, and fatigue. Those factors also increase the likelihood that a driver might miss a ramp sign, enter a roadway incorrectly, or fail to correct quickly. Enforcement on Highway 99 is ongoing year-round, with seasonal campaigns that target impaired driving and high-risk behaviours. Police consistently ask the public to call 911 to report a suspected impaired or wrong-way driver when it is safe to do so, and to provide as much location detail as possible so officers can respond quickly.
From an engineering standpoint, the Ministry uses standard countermeasures designed to prevent wrong-way entries at ramps and intersections. These include using clear “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signage where appropriate, placing signs at driver eye level for better visibility at night, applying directional arrows on the pavement at ramp terminals, using reflective posts and edge delineators to reinforce the intended direction of travel, and installing lighting or larger sign faces in locations where visibility is an issue. In some settings, the road geometry itself is adjusted so the “feel” of a ramp discourages a wrong turn across a median. These tools come from national and provincial guidelines used across BC and can be applied through routine safety reviews.
Local residents often raise practical questions after incidents like this: Are the signs large enough? Are they bright enough at night or in heavy rain? Do tourists unfamiliar with the corridor have enough advance guidance? Those concerns point to low-cost steps that can help at known trouble spots—bigger signs or an extra sign at driver height, refreshed pavement arrows, reflective delineators, or better lighting at a ramp nose. They also point to higher-cost options, such as adding physical channelization or small median islands to make a wrong turn less likely. While the highway is provincial, local knowledge is valuable. Residents who regularly use specific ramps and notice recurring confusion can help by reporting what they see; that local feedback can support the Ministry’s engineering review process.
Education plays a role, too. Most drivers will never encounter a wrong-way vehicle, but it’s worth knowing the basics. RCMP advise that if you spot a vehicle travelling toward you in your lane on a divided highway, reduce speed, move to the right when safe, and avoid swerving left toward the median or passing lane, where a wrong-way driver is more likely to be. When clear of immediate danger, call 911 and provide the direction of travel, nearest exit or landmark, and vehicle description if you have it. If you mistakenly find yourself facing the wrong direction, the safest choice is to pull over immediately, stop, and wait for help rather than attempting a U-turn across live lanes. These straightforward steps are based on long-standing police guidance across Canada and are reinforced in provincial road-safety messaging.
Context matters in Squamish. Traffic on Highway 99 can surge on winter weekends and holidays, and weather shifts quickly through Howe Sound and the Tantalus range. Seasonal safety requirements—such as winter tire rules on designated routes—are in place on Highway 99 and are enforced. While winter tires don’t directly prevent a wrong-way entry, they do improve control and stopping distance in the conditions where visibility is often reduced and reaction time matters most. The Ministry’s maintenance contractor for the corridor also monitors conditions and maintains signs, markings, and roadside delineation; reporting damaged or obscured signage helps keep those defences working as intended.
Closer to home, the District of Squamish works on road safety within municipal boundaries and routinely advocates to the province on highway concerns. That can include asking for a safety review of specific interchanges or nearby highway intersections when collision patterns or reported near-misses suggest an issue. The District’s transportation planning also looks at how local traffic flows into and out of the highway, including commercial areas and new neighbourhoods, with the aim of reducing driver confusion as development progresses. While the District does not control Highway 99, it can compile local observations, share them with the Ministry, and coordinate community engagement when reviews occur.
What could happen next after a report like this? Typically, officials consider a spot review of the on- and off-ramps in question. That might include a night-time sign visibility assessment, a check of pavement arrows and reflectors, and a look at whether the ramp layout encourages the correct movement. If an issue is identified, the first actions are usually quick to implement—additional or larger signs, new reflective devices, or refreshed paint. If a geometric change is warranted, that work takes longer and is usually scheduled alongside other corridor improvements. Public input helps by identifying the specific conditions when confusion occurs—after dark, in rain, or when glare is present—so the solution can be tailored accordingly.
Residents can support this process in practical ways. If you notice a damaged sign, missing arrow, or foliage blocking a sightline, report it to the Ministry through its regional office or online channels. If you observe a near-miss or recurring confusion at a particular ramp, make note of the time of day and conditions and share that information with local officials. And if you encounter a wrong-way vehicle or a driver who appears impaired, distance yourself safely and call 911.
Squamish Blog has asked the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and the Squamish RCMP whether a review of the affected ramps near the incident location is planned; official comment is pending. We will share updates as soon as they are confirmed. In the meantime, drivers can find real-time highway conditions on DriveBC and seasonal safety guidance on the Ministry’s website. Our community has a strong record of paying attention and speaking up about road safety. When we combine that local attention with proven engineering measures and consistent enforcement, we reduce risk for everyone who lives, works, and travels here.
For current travel information, see DriveBC. For maintenance or signage concerns, contact the Ministry’s regional office through its public channels. If a wrong-way driver is observed, call 911 when safe to do so. We will continue to follow this issue and report on any safety improvements that emerge from the review process.
