Many of us drive Highway 99 every day. When something goes wrong on that road, it’s not just a headline — it’s a reminder that our safety depends on how clearly our routes are designed and how carefully we all use them. A local resident recently experienced a wrong-way driving incident, and while full details are still being confirmed, the report has prompted new conversations in Squamish about what more can be done to reduce risk on the Sea to Sky corridor.
At the time of publication, official comment from Squamish RCMP and BC Highway Patrol on this incident is pending. We have also requested information from the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (the Ministry) about any near-term safety reviews in the area. We will share updates as they are confirmed.
Wrong-way driving is a low-frequency but high-consequence event. Even one vehicle heading into oncoming traffic can create a cascade of hazards for people who are simply commuting to work, taking kids to activities, or driving to appointments. The question for Squamish is how to turn a worrying moment into a practical plan — one that combines provincial highway measures, local reporting, and everyday driving habits that make a difference.
Highway 99 is a complex corridor. It carries local traffic, regional commuters, commercial vehicles, and seasonal visitors, often under rapidly changing weather and light conditions. Over the years, the Ministry has made significant improvements to the Sea to Sky route, including upgrades ahead of the 2010 Winter Olympics that added new bridges, passing lanes, sightline improvements, and safety features such as rumble strips and enhanced signage. Those investments matter, and so does keeping pace with current traffic volumes and the realities of night driving, rain, glare, and fog that can make navigation harder and signage easier to miss.
Across BC, the Ministry relies on standardized measures to reduce wrong-way risk where divided highways and interchanges are present. These typically include well-placed “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs on exit ramps, oversized and high-reflectivity sign faces, retroreflective devices that appear red when approached from the wrong direction, and clear pavement arrows. In many locations, centreline and shoulder rumble strips help alert a drifting driver. While not all tools fit every site, they form a consistent toolbox guided by provincial standards and engineering judgment. When a concern is reported, a typical response is a signage and visibility assessment: are the signs big enough, bright enough, and placed where drivers naturally look? Is the line paint in good condition? Is vegetation or roadside clutter affecting sightlines? These basics often prevent near-misses from becoming crashes.
Local knowledge is an important part of that process. Residents are often the first to spot where a driveway, complex intersection, or ramp layout could confuse an unfamiliar driver, especially in the dark or heavy rain. The District of Squamish manages local streets, while the Ministry oversees Highway 99, and both agencies rely on public reporting to pinpoint problem areas. If you encounter confusing signage or a near-miss, reporting it with clear location details helps engineers target reviews and maintenance. In past safety programs across the province, even simple adjustments — a larger sign, improved lighting, fresh line paint, or a better-placed directional arrow — have made a noticeable difference.
Enforcement and education also play a role. BC Highway Patrol, working alongside local detachments, conducts ongoing enforcement on Highway 99 focused on speed, impaired driving, and other high-risk behaviours. Provincial campaigns such as CounterAttack and seasonal speed enforcement are part of this effort. While wrong-way events are not typically the product of a single factor, impairment and confusion are known contributors in many jurisdictions. Reducing speeding, distraction, and impairment helps lower the likelihood of errors, and creates more time and space for all drivers to react when the unexpected occurs.
If you ever suspect a vehicle is travelling the wrong way, police recommend prioritizing your own safety and contacting 911 as soon as it’s safe to do so. Providing the most accurate possible location, direction of travel, vehicle description, and any nearby landmarks helps first responders get to the right place quickly. For drivers who may be confronted with a vehicle approaching from the wrong direction on a divided highway, the safest immediate actions are to reduce speed, move as far to the right as safely possible, and avoid sudden lane changes that could create secondary risks. Pulling into a safe area and making the call can be the most effective step you take.
Looking ahead, residents are asking what additional steps might help at locations where confusion has been reported. There are several options the Ministry can consider as part of a site review: increasing sign size and reflectivity, adding supplementary “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs closer to the driver’s line of sight, refreshing pavement arrows, improving nighttime visibility through lighting or reflective delineators, and ensuring median barriers and channelization guide traffic naturally into the correct lanes. Where data supports it, some jurisdictions also use enhanced warning treatments — for example, larger sign assemblies or in-pavement reflectors that are particularly visible in rain and at night.
The District of Squamish can also support the effort through collaboration on local access points that tie into the highway, coordination of traffic-calming on municipal roads that feed onto Highway 99, and public awareness initiatives that remind drivers about lane discipline, safe speeds, and how to report hazards. Many residents already watch for speed reader boards, seasonal markings near schools, and line-painting crews — visible signals that safety is a shared responsibility. The same approach applies to highway access: small, steady improvements add up, especially when paired with timely maintenance and clear information for the public.
Reliable data underpins these decisions. The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) maintains an online crash map that helps identify collision patterns along major corridors, including Highway 99 through Squamish. While those tools don’t diagnose every cause, they do provide a baseline for where attention may be most useful. Combining that information with front-line input from police, road-maintenance contractors, and residents creates a more complete picture of what’s happening at specific ramps, intersections, and merge areas.
For community members, a few practical steps can help. If you notice a sign that’s hard to see, a line marking that has faded, or a confusing approach to a ramp or access road, report it to the Ministry through its highway maintenance channels, and let the District know if the concern involves local streets that connect to the highway. When possible, include date, time, exact location, travel direction, weather and light conditions, and a photo. On the road, give yourself extra margin at night and in poor weather, follow lane arrows closely at complex junctions, and resist the urge to rely on memory if you’re on a new route — the signs are there to guide you, especially where layouts have changed.
Incidents like a wrong-way encounter are unsettling, but they can also serve as a catalyst for constructive action. Clear standards exist, proven tools are available, and our community has a strong record of rolling up its sleeves when safety is at stake. With input from residents, attention from the Ministry, and ongoing enforcement from RCMP and BC Highway Patrol, Squamish can continue to improve a corridor that so many of us depend on every day.
Official updates will be shared as they’re available. We have asked Squamish RCMP and BC Highway Patrol for information related to the reported incident, and we have requested the Ministry’s confirmation on whether a site-specific review is planned. For real-time travel information, refer to DriveBC. For maintenance concerns or signage questions on Highway 99, contact the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. For issues on local streets, contact the District of Squamish. We will continue to follow this file and report on any confirmed safety improvements.
