Neighbourhood safety on and around Highway 99 is back on people’s minds in Squamish after a local resident recently experienced a wrong-way driving incident. While details are limited, the report is a reminder of how quickly things can go wrong when drivers become disoriented, and why clear signage, consistent enforcement, and community awareness all matter on a corridor that serves commuters, families, tourists, and commercial traffic every day.
Wrong-way incidents are uncommon, but they are high-risk events. They typically occur at or near highway access points, in low-visibility conditions, or when a driver is impaired or distracted. In our area, where the Sea to Sky Highway transitions from open highway to signalized junctions and urban streets, the change in speed, lighting, and lane patterns can add to the complexity. It’s reasonable for residents to ask whether the combination of signs, lane markings, and lighting at busy junctions provides enough visual cues to keep drivers on track, especially at night or in winter weather.
The BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) is responsible for the operation and safety of Highway 99 through Squamish, including signage, line painting, barriers, and lighting on the provincial right-of-way. The province’s traffic information service, DriveBC, is where motorists can find real-time updates about incidents, closures, and road conditions. Squamish RCMP is the lead for enforcement and collision response within the District. Residents who encounter an immediate risk to life or safety are encouraged to call 911; for non-urgent concerns, reports can be made to the local detachment’s non-emergency line.
It is not yet clear what caused the recent wrong-way incident, and officials have not released further information. Squamish Blog has reached out to Squamish RCMP and the Ministry of Transportation for comment on any investigation and on whether a signage or design review is being considered in the area. We will share updates when they are confirmed by the responsible agencies.
In the meantime, there are straightforward measures communities commonly look at when wrong-way concerns arise. On the infrastructure side, transportation engineers typically start with a site audit: checking whether “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs are installed in the right places and at the right heights; whether directional arrows on the pavement are fresh and reflective; whether curb islands and channelization clearly guide vehicles onto the correct lanes; and whether lighting and retroreflective devices on posts, barriers, and delineators are doing their job in rain and darkness. On divided highways, adding or extending median barriers can also help reduce crossover risks, and rumble strips can provide an extra audible and tactile alert if a vehicle begins moving in the wrong direction.
The Sea to Sky Highway has seen a series of safety investments over the past decade and a half, including widened sections, median barriers in higher-risk areas, improved lighting at key intersections, and electronic signs to warn about weather, incidents, and changing conditions. Variable speed limit systems, used in parts of the corridor, are designed to slow traffic during sudden shifts in weather or congestion, which can reduce the severity of collisions. Even with these improvements, the realities of mountain weather, heavy weekend travel, and the mix of local and long-distance trips mean ongoing attention to design details and maintenance is essential.
Local drivers will know that Highway 99 through town includes multiple signalized junctions and turn lanes that serve neighbourhoods, schools, and businesses. This mix of highway and urban functions can create decision points where unfamiliar drivers hesitate or choose incorrectly. That is why a periodic review of signage and markings at and near highway access points in and around Squamish is a reasonable next step. A focused look at high-volume junctions—assessing visibility, lane guidance, and the clarity of “one-way” cues at every approach—can often reveal small, quick upgrades that make a meaningful difference, such as larger or supplemental signs, additional arrows on the pavement, or more reflective posts at island tips.
Enforcement and education matter as much as engineering. Squamish RCMP regularly participates in province-wide campaigns targeting impairment, distraction, and excessive speed—all factors that can contribute to catastrophic mistakes behind the wheel. Community policing and Speed Watch volunteer programs, supported by ICBC and local detachments, help reinforce neighbourhood expectations by making driver behaviour more visible and by sharing reminders in real time. When residents report near-misses or confusing locations, those observations can be passed along to MOTI and the District’s transportation staff so they can be factored into maintenance schedules and design reviews.
Many readers ask what they can do when they see something dangerous. If you encounter an immediate hazard on the highway—such as a vehicle travelling the wrong way—call 911 with your location and direction of travel. If the danger has passed, but the area seems confusing, report the concern to Squamish RCMP’s non-emergency line and to MOTI through its regional office or service request channels; include the nearest cross street, direction of travel, time of day, and any visibility issues you noticed. For ongoing traffic concerns on municipal roads, residents can use the District of Squamish’s service request system. These reports help engineers and maintenance crews prioritize repainting, vegetation trimming that restores sign visibility, and lighting repairs.
Community dialogue can also be helpful. Wrong-way incidents raise broader questions that go beyond a single event: Are night-time cues strong enough at our highway entrances? Do lane markings hold up through wet winters? Are “No Entry” and “One Way” signs placed where drivers naturally look, including for visitors or people towing trailers who may be focused on mirrors? Are there construction detours or temporary traffic patterns that might be increasing confusion at key locations? Each of these questions can be addressed through routine audits, and they often lead to low-cost changes with high safety value.
Professional guidance from road-safety advocates often centres on the “safe systems” approach—recognizing that people make mistakes, and designing roads and policies so that a single error does not result in tragedy. In practice, that can mean a combination of engineering (clearer separation between opposing traffic and unmistakable wayfinding into the correct lanes), enforcement (deterring impairment and distraction), and education (reminding all of us to slow down, scan early for signs, and speak up if something on our route seems unclear).
Squamish Blog will continue to follow this issue. We have requested information from Squamish RCMP about any investigation related to the recent report and from the Ministry of Transportation about current or planned safety reviews on the Highway 99 corridor through town. If the agencies confirm specific steps—such as signage updates, lighting enhancements, or a formal audit of access points—we will publish those details and invite public feedback.
For now, residents can find official traffic updates at DriveBC, use 911 for immediate hazards, and share non-urgent road-safety observations with Squamish RCMP and MOTI. As our community grows and travel demand increases, keeping our highway and neighbourhood streets safe will remain a shared responsibility. We’ll post updates as they become available from the responsible authorities. According to the Ministry, ongoing highway safety assessments are a regular part of corridor management, and we expect the area will continue to be reviewed for improvements as needed.
