Highway 99 runs through the heart of daily life in Squamish. When something goes wrong on the Sea to Sky—especially a situation that could lead to a head‑on collision—it lands close to home for commuters, parents, and business owners alike. A recent report of a wrong‑way driving incident involving a local resident has prompted new conversations about how we keep each other safe on a corridor that is busier, more complex, and more essential to the community with each passing year.
Details of the reported incident are still being confirmed, and we have asked Squamish RCMP and the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for comment. What we can say for now is that wrong‑way events are rare, but when they happen they are among the most dangerous scenarios on any divided highway or multilane corridor. Even without re‑hashing specifics, the report is a useful reminder to take a hard look at the basics: clear signage, consistent driver awareness, and quick reporting when something seems off.
Highway 99 has seen many safety improvements over the past two decades. Ahead of the 2010 Winter Games, the province rebuilt kilometres of the Sea to Sky with wider shoulders, median separations in key sections, improved sightlines, and new signage. In subsequent years, the province added measures such as rumble strips, dynamic message signs, and variable speed limit systems on weather‑sensitive stretches north of Squamish. These tools are designed to reduce serious collisions by improving driver information and giving crews better ways to respond when conditions change.
Closer to town, the highway functions as both a regional arterial and a local main street. Signalized intersections, multiple access points, turning bays, and a steady mix of commuter, commercial, and visitor traffic can increase the potential for driver confusion—particularly after dark, in heavy rain or snow, or for people unfamiliar with local connections. That’s why good wayfinding, “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs at the right places and heights, reflective pavement markings, and well‑lit intersections matter so much. The District of Squamish manages local roads and lighting on municipal streets, while the Ministry is responsible for Highway 99; the two agencies coordinate on areas where the network meets.
Road‑safety advocates often point to a cluster of factors that can contribute to wrong‑way situations: impairment, distraction, fatigue, unfamiliarity with the area, poor visibility, and complex intersection geometry. In British Columbia, provincial data consistently show speed, impairment, and distraction as leading contributors to severe crashes across all road types. None of this assigns blame in any single event, but it does guide where prevention works best—clear and consistent cues to keep drivers on the correct path, and enforcement that reduces the most dangerous behaviours.
The Squamish detachment of the RCMP conducts year‑round traffic enforcement, including impaired driving checks and seasonal road safety campaigns. The province’s CounterAttack program targets impaired driving, and the RCMP regularly reminds motorists to dial 911 to report suspected impaired or dangerous driving when it is safe to do so. When calling, the most helpful details are the vehicle description, licence plate if visible, location, and direction of travel; drivers should pull over before using a phone. Dash‑camera footage, if available, can also assist investigators.
For government, the immediate question after a report like this is where and why confusion could have happened. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure typically reviews signage, lighting, and lane markings at reported conflict points, and may add or reposition “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs, install larger or additional arrows and chevrons, refresh reflective paint, or adjust lighting levels. On divided roads, median treatments, extra delineators, and additional rumble strips can make it harder for a driver to drift toward oncoming lanes. In town, the District can look at local intersections that feed the highway to ensure directional cues are consistent from curb to corridor.
For residents, there are practical steps that help right away. If you encounter a driver who may be going the wrong direction, slow down, move as far right as safely possible, and do not attempt to confront or follow the vehicle. Once stopped in a safe location, call 911 with as much information as you can provide. If you’ve noticed a location where signage is unclear—or where lighting or markings fade quickly—flag it to the Ministry’s regional office or through the province’s highway maintenance contractor for the Sea to Sky. Municipal concerns on local streets can be submitted to the District of Squamish’s service portal; provincial highway issues should go directly to the Ministry or to DriveBC’s “Report a Highway Problem” channel so they reach the right crews.
Longer term, continued growth in Squamish means more vehicles and more visitors sharing the same space. Weekend peaks and seasonal weather can stretch everyone’s attention and patience. That’s where small, consistent habits make the biggest difference: reduce speed when visibility drops, use turn bays rather than mid‑block U‑turns, make sure headlamps are aimed and working, and keep windshields clear of fog and glare. For out‑of‑town guests or new teenage drivers in the household, a quick review of local access points and the best routes to neighbourhoods can prevent last‑second lane changes that put people at risk.
The province’s variable speed limit signs north of Squamish respond to road and weather conditions, and the Ministry uses dynamic message boards to share incident alerts, lane closures, and safety reminders. DriveBC remains the best single source for live conditions, closures, and construction. These systems are only as effective as our willingness to adjust when we see them. Slowing to the posted variable limit, leaving space, and avoiding sudden lane changes give everyone—including plows, tow trucks, and first responders—the time they need to do their work.
There’s also value in local knowledge. Residents have a good eye for where visitors get mixed up, where sun‑glare hits at certain times of day, or where pavement arrows would help guide a complex movement. If you have location‑specific feedback, consider sharing it with the Ministry and the District, and copy the Squamish RCMP traffic unit if it’s a recurring safety concern. Well‑documented community input often accelerates signage refreshes or small geometric tweaks that prevent bigger problems down the road.
As we await official updates on the reported wrong‑way incident, the takeaway for Squamish is straightforward: keep our guard up, keep our cues clear, and keep talking to each other about what we’re seeing. The combination of provincial infrastructure, local attention to detail, and everyday driving courtesy is what keeps Highway 99 moving safely for families, workers, and visitors.
We have requested comment from the Squamish RCMP and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure about any review or corrective actions under consideration. This story will be updated as soon as confirmed information is available. For current highway conditions and incident alerts, visit DriveBC. To report a non‑emergency highway maintenance concern, contact the Ministry’s Sea to Sky district office or the regional highway maintenance contractor. If there is an immediate risk to public safety, call 911.
