Many Squamish families spend a good part of their week on Highway 99, whether it’s the daily commute, a late run to the rink, or a weekend drive to see friends up the corridor. That’s why any report of a wrong-way vehicle on or near the highway lands hard. Even when no one is hurt, an event like this is a clear reminder that small gaps in attention, lighting, or signage can have big consequences, especially in winter when visibility is tougher. It’s also a moment to ask straightforward questions: Are the basics in place to prevent rare but high-risk driving errors, and do we know how to respond when they happen?
A local resident recently experienced a wrong-way driving incident. Details of that person’s experience are not the focus here; what matters most for the community is what we can do—individually and collectively—to reduce the chance of a similar event and to respond safely if one occurs. We have asked BC Highway Patrol (BCHP) for information about any recent wrong-way reports in the Squamish area. If a formal report was filed, confirmation is pending; we will share updates once available.
In British Columbia, Highway 99 through the Sea to Sky corridor is managed by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI). The province sets standards for highway design, signage, pavement markings, and roadside barriers, and it oversees winter maintenance through regional contractors. The District of Squamish manages municipal roads and intersections within town limits; the province is responsible for the highway itself and its junctions. When an incident occurs on or near Highway 99, MOTI and police typically review the location to determine if any changes are warranted—such as refreshed pavement markings, additional illumination, or upgraded signage at key approaches.
Wrong-way driving events are relatively uncommon compared to other collision types, but they carry a high risk of severe outcomes when they do occur. North American road-safety research has found that factors often linked to wrong-way driving include darkness and poor visibility, impairment, and roadway layouts that can be confusing at night or in heavy rain. None of those factors should be assumed in relation to the recent Squamish incident; rather, they point to the kinds of countermeasures that have proven useful elsewhere and that can be considered locally against provincial standards.
Several practical measures are already part of MOTI’s toolbox for preventing wrong-way entries. These include “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs placed at the correct driver eye height, high-visibility reflective sheeting on sign faces, clear lane arrows and edge lines on the pavement, channelization that naturally guides drivers into the correct lane, and intersection lighting that helps people read the road in low light. In locations with complex geometry, additional cues—like larger sign sizes, supplemental signs at driver eye level, reflective delineators, or enhanced pavement arrows—can make a meaningful difference. Where feasible, rumble strips can also provide a tactile warning if a driver drifts. These measures are part of standard MOTI practice and can be reviewed at specific sites when concerns are raised.
Enforcement and education are the other two legs of the stool. BCHP and local RCMP detachments conduct year-round patrols on the corridor, with targeted enforcement on speed, impairment, distracted driving, and winter tire compliance. These efforts increase during poor weather and long weekends, when traffic volumes and collision risk tend to climb. The province’s Immediate Roadside Prohibition program and Criminal Code enforcement for impaired driving remain critical tools for keeping high-risk drivers off the road. On the education side, ICBC and police continue seasonal campaigns that emphasize winter driving readiness, headlight use, and the importance of planning a sober ride home—practical steps that help prevent the kinds of errors that can lead to wrong-way entries or other serious incidents.
For individual drivers, the most important thing in the rare event you encounter a vehicle travelling the wrong way is to create space and reduce speed. Police advise moving to the right, slowing down, and avoiding sudden lane changes that could confuse other drivers. If it’s safe, pull over and call 911 with as much detail as you can provide about the vehicle, direction, and location. Do not attempt to follow or signal the driver yourself. These are standard safety steps recommended by police across B.C., and they apply equally on municipal roads and on Highway 99.
For the community, the question is what improvements—if any—are needed at our local highway junctions and nearby approaches. While Highway 99 is provincial, residents are well-placed to flag specific sites where lines are faded, turning movements are unclear, or nighttime visibility isn’t great. If you notice an issue at a municipal intersection, the District’s service request process is the right place to start. For provincial concerns on the highway itself, MOTI can be contacted directly, and its maintenance contractors can respond to operational issues like lighting outages, debris, or worn markings. After any unusual event, a location-specific review by MOTI and BCHP can determine whether additional signage or other changes would add a meaningful safety margin.
There are also community tools that complement enforcement and engineering. The RCMP’s Community Speed Watch program, run with trained volunteers and supported by police, helps calm speeds and raise awareness on local roads. Road-safety grants through ICBC’s community programs have supported crosswalk visibility upgrades, signage improvements, and speed-reader boards in communities across the province; these could be explored for targeted projects in Squamish that align with MOTI standards near highway junctions. Education efforts led by schools, sports associations, and employers can reinforce practical reminders: use headlights in rain and low light, slow down through complex intersections, and call 911 immediately if you see dangerous driving.
Highway 99 has seen significant safety upgrades over the past two decades, with realignments, new barriers in select locations, and improved shoulders introduced prior to the 2010 Games. Even so, the corridor remains a mountain highway with rapidly changing conditions—heavy rain, glare, darkness, wildlife, and winter weather all demand extra caution. That reality means prevention rarely rests on a single fix. It’s the combination of well-maintained signs and markings, enforcement that deters high-risk behaviour, community reporting when something looks off, and everyday, attentive driving that keeps people safe.
The tone of community discussion also matters. When an incident like this surfaces, it’s natural to feel frustrated or worried. It helps to keep the focus on concrete steps: identify the exact location, note what might have been confusing in the dark or rain, and get that information to the right place. Constructive feedback is how signage gets adjusted, lines get repainted, and lighting gets repaired. It’s also how enforcement can be targeted at the right times and locations, based on real-world experience from people who use the corridor daily.
As of publication, official comment from BC Highway Patrol on any recent wrong-way reports near Squamish is pending. We have also asked MOTI whether a review of the area where the local incident occurred is underway and whether any signage or marking adjustments are being considered. We will share updates once we receive confirmed information.
In the meantime, if you have a safety concern on a municipal street, you can submit it through the District of Squamish’s service request process. For issues on Highway 99—such as damaged or unclear signs, persistent lighting outages, or maintenance needs—contact MOTI or its Sea to Sky maintenance contractor through provincial channels. For real-time road conditions, DriveBC remains the official source. And if you witness dangerous driving or a vehicle travelling the wrong way, call 911 immediately.
Highway safety is never “set and forget.” It requires steady attention from the province, ongoing input from residents, and day-to-day care from all of us behind the wheel. This recent incident is a timely prompt to check the basics, share what we see, and support the practical measures—clear signage, visible lines, focused enforcement, and safe driving habits—that make a difference on the Sea to Sky.
We will update readers as soon as BCHP or MOTI confirm whether a site-specific review is underway. If changes are proposed, we’ll share the details and how to provide input. Until then, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure continues to manage the corridor’s safety features, and BC Highway Patrol remains the contact for enforcement updates along Highway 99.
