When a driver is headed the wrong way, seconds matter. A recently reported wrong-way driving incident near Squamish is a timely reminder that Highway 99 remains a shared space where small mistakes can carry big consequences. For families commuting between neighbourhoods, parents shuttling kids to activities, and crews moving materials up and down the corridor, the question isn’t just what happened in one moment — it’s what we can do together to prevent the next close call.
At the time of publication, details about the specific incident — including the exact location, contributing factors, and whether any enforcement action followed — have not been confirmed by police. We have asked Squamish RCMP and BC Highway Patrol for information and will update this story when official responses are available. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, which operates Highway 99, has also been asked whether a signage review is planned for local interchanges.
Highway 99 is the North Shore and Sea to Sky region’s main artery. It carries a mix of commuter traffic, commercial trucks, visitors unfamiliar with local ramps, and recreational users travelling at varying speeds. The Province significantly upgraded the corridor ahead of the 2010 Winter Games, adding median barriers on many sections, widening shoulders, improving sightlines, and installing new signs to reduce the risk of severe collisions. Since then, the Ministry has continued with routine maintenance and targeted safety work on high-collision locations across B.C., using a data-driven approach that includes rumble strips, reflective markings, improved lighting where warranted, and resurfacing programs to maintain friction in wet conditions.
Wrong-way entries, while uncommon, are among the most dangerous roadway errors because they can quickly lead to head-on conflicts. Safety professionals point to a few recurring risk factors in these events: driver impairment, confusion at complex or unfamiliar interchanges, visibility challenges at night or in poor weather, and missed “Do Not Enter” or “Wrong Way” signs. It’s important to stress that none of these factors has been confirmed in the recent local incident; they are shared here to support a broader community discussion about prevention.
On provincial highways, standard defences are already in place. The Ministry installs “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs at off-ramps, paints directional arrows on ramp pavement, uses reflective delineators to help drivers hold their line through curves, and designs channelization islands that guide traffic into the correct lanes. Median barriers along much of Highway 99 limit cross-over head-on collisions on the mainline, though they do not directly prevent a vehicle from mistakenly entering a ramp in the wrong direction. These layers of engineering are complemented by enforcement and education — the other two legs of the road-safety “three E’s” that public agencies rely on across B.C.
Local residents often notice the small things first: a sign partly obscured by vegetation, a faded arrow at a ramp, or a lane marker that disappears in the rain. Those details matter. A practical next step is a focused signage and pavement-marking check at ramps serving Squamish, looking at night-time conspicuity, retroreflectivity of sign faces, and whether additional cues are warranted. Jurisdictions commonly consider measures such as doubling up “Do Not Enter/Wrong Way” signs, using oversized sign panels where appropriate, refreshing high-contrast pavement arrows, and improving lighting or delineation on approach. The Ministry routinely conducts these types of reviews on B.C. highways based on maintenance cycles and collision trends; a community nudge can help ensure local locations get a fresh look sooner rather than later.
Enforcement also plays a role. BC Highway Patrol and local RCMP detachments run targeted campaigns throughout the year — including impaired driving enforcement and seasonal speed initiatives — aimed at behaviours that elevate crash risk. Impairment is a known contributor in wrong-way events in many jurisdictions. Continued visibility of CounterAttack-style roadchecks and high-risk driving enforcement on the Sea to Sky corridor serves as both a deterrent and an early intervention.
Education is the piece most of us can act on today. For drivers who are new to the corridor, or for residents guiding visiting family and friends, a quick refresher goes a long way. Plan routes in advance so ramp choices don’t come down to a last-second decision. Approach interchanges at a speed that leaves time to scan for directional arrows and red “Do Not Enter” signs. If you ever realize you may be on the wrong path, pull over in a safe location as soon as you can, reorient using posted signs or a map app, and re-enter the highway only when you are certain of the correct direction. If you see a vehicle travelling the wrong way, reduce speed, move right, stop safely if necessary, and call 911 as soon as it is safe to do so. Do not attempt to flag down or block another driver on the highway.
Closer to home, there are constructive ways for community members to help identify and resolve issues before they lead to another near-miss. If a sign is blocked, damaged, or hard to read, or if markings have worn away at a provincial ramp, residents can report it to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure through its public service channels. On municipal roads that connect to the highway, the District of Squamish can assess sightlines, local wayfinding, and lighting to ensure approaches to Highway 99 are intuitive and consistent. Coordinated attention to these transition zones — where local streets meet the provincial network — can reduce the chance of last-minute lane changes or uncertain turns.
Community groups and parents’ associations in Squamish have long championed safe streets near schools, parks, and trailheads. The same neighbour-to-neighbour approach works for highway safety. Sharing reliable information about current road conditions through official sources, reminding one another about designated pick-up and drop-off areas that minimize risky turns across traffic, and encouraging designated drivers for nights out in the city all contribute to a safer corridor for everyone.
It’s also worth remembering the corridor’s changing rhythms. Traffic volumes and driving patterns shift with ski weekends, climbing season, special events, and construction. Variable Message Signs on the highway and updates from DriveBC provide real-time information about incidents, delays, or lane closures. Checking those sources before leaving, and building in a few extra minutes during busy periods, helps reduce the stress that can lead to mistakes at interchanges.
Squamish is a community that looks out for each other. The recent wrong-way report is unsettling, but it is also a chance to turn concern into action: a signage touch-up where needed, steady enforcement against the highest-risk behaviours, and everyday habits that keep us and our neighbours safe. We’ll share confirmed updates from Squamish RCMP, BC Highway Patrol, and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure as they become available.
For current travel information, visit DriveBC.ca. For questions about provincial highway operations or to report a highway maintenance concern, contact the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure through its public service channels. For local road and intersection questions within municipal boundaries, contact the District of Squamish. If officials confirm a safety review at any Squamish-area interchange, we will report it here.
