A recent wrong-way driving incident reported by a local resident has prompted fresh questions in Squamish about how we keep one another safe on and around Highway 99. While events like this are uncommon, they are high risk. They remind us that familiar roads can still be confusing in low light or poor weather, and that quick, calm decisions by drivers and clear, visible signs are both essential to preventing serious harm.
Highway 99 through Squamish carries a mix of local traffic, commercial vehicles and visitors travelling the Sea to Sky corridor. Volumes can swing sharply with weekend recreation, school and work commutes, and seasonal tourism. Winter adds darker afternoons, rain, snow and spray that reduce visibility and make reflective signs and pavement markings do more of the safety work. Those conditions are exactly when a single wrong turn across a divided roadway or into an opposing lane has the greatest potential to cause a severe crash.
On provincial highways, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) sets and maintains signs, pavement markings and barriers. Within municipal boundaries, the District of Squamish manages local streets, with changes coordinated where municipal roads meet Highway 99. The RCMP and BC Highway Patrol are responsible for enforcement on the corridor. Together, those roles define how wrong-way risks are identified and reduced: a combination of clear standards, routine maintenance, and targeted enforcement where problems surface.
For drivers, the immediate safety steps are straightforward and well known in policing and road-safety guidance. If you encounter a vehicle travelling toward you in your lane, slow down, move to the right as far as it is safe to do so, and stop if necessary. Turn on your hazards and use your horn to attract attention only if you can do so without increasing risk. When you’re safe, call 911 and report the location, direction of travel, and vehicle description. Even when the vehicle is no longer in sight, these reports help police intercept the driver and alert others through dispatch. If you witness a near-miss but no longer see the vehicle, you can still report the incident and location to police when safe to do so; those details inform patrols and engineering reviews.
The Sea to Sky corridor has long been a focus for safety improvements that balance travel demand with mountain weather. MOTI’s standards require winter tires on Highway 99 north of Horseshoe Bay from October 1 to April 30, a reminder that the same conditions making traction more difficult also reduce sign visibility and lengthen stopping distances. In recent years, the province and its maintenance contractors have used a toolkit of measures on highways across B.C. that are relevant to wrong-way prevention: larger and higher-mounted “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs where roads divide, highly reflective sheeting and delineators that stand out in rain and snow, rumble strips, direction arrows on pavement, and better lighting at complex intersections. The provincial traffic control standards (the BC supplement to the national manual) guide where and how these features are applied.
Wrong-way entries most often happen where a driver misreads an intersection or ramp, especially at night or during heavy rain, or when a local shortcut leads someone to turn into a channelized lane the wrong way. In Squamish, Highway 99 transitions between higher-speed segments and signalized urban intersections through the community, and drivers move frequently between highway and local streets. That design is convenient for access, but it puts more pressure on cues like arrows, medians, and sign placement to make the correct path obvious at a glance, including for visitors who may be unfamiliar with the layout.
Local residents who have raised concerns say the recent incident is a cue to double-check whether those cues are as clear as they need to be in all conditions. Several practical steps are often considered in locations where wrong-way events are reported. They include reviewing sign placement and size at divided approaches; adding reflective “do not enter” tabs lower on signposts where headlights pick them up sooner; refreshing pavement arrows and edge lines for night rain visibility; installing channelization that physically guides turns; and reviewing lighting to reduce glare and shadows. These measures are routine and relatively quick to implement when agencies determine they’re warranted.
Enforcement and education round out the picture. BC Highway Patrol maintains a continuous presence on the Sea to Sky, with focused efforts on impaired driving, excessive speed and distracted driving—three behaviours that can contribute to wrong-lane errors. Seasonal campaigns, including CounterAttack and winter driving enforcement, operate alongside regular patrols. Locally, residents can support this work by reporting dangerous driving immediately and by sharing straightforward reminders within their networks: watch for direction arrows, avoid late lane changes at intersections, and never attempt a U-turn on the highway or at a median opening not designed for it. Small habits make a difference when visibility is poor or when traffic is heavy.
This is also an opportunity to talk about how we want near-miss information to flow. The more precise the location data, the more actionable it is for engineers and police. If you’ve observed a confusing approach or a near-miss, note the nearest cross street or landmark, the direction of travel, and the time of day, and share that with the appropriate agency. For concerns on Highway 99, MOTI is the point of contact; for municipal streets, the District of Squamish handles requests. Those reports help target line repainting, sign replacements, or other low-cost safety upgrades that can be scheduled within routine maintenance.
It is worth restating that wrong-way events are rare, and Squamish drivers do a great deal to keep one another safe every day, often in challenging conditions. But rarity is exactly why they can catch people off guard. With winter in full swing and longer dark hours, a few practical checks go a long way: headlights clean and on, windshields defogged, speed adjusted to sightlines, and extra caution where the highway divides or where an unfamiliar road layout may lead to hesitation. For visitors, especially those arriving after dark or in heavy rain, the same patience that makes weekend traffic manageable also reduces the chance of a costly mistake.
We have requested comment from BC Highway Patrol and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure regarding any recent wrong-way reports in the Squamish area and whether specific locations are scheduled for safety reviews or upgrades. We will share their responses as soon as they are available. In the meantime, residents can check DriveBC for current conditions and alerts on Highway 99, and are encouraged to contact police immediately via 911 if they encounter dangerous driving in progress. For non-emergency concerns about municipal roads, the District’s customer service channels remain open; for provincial highway signage and maintenance, MOTI accepts service requests through its regional contacts.
Keeping Squamish safe is always a shared effort. Clear and consistent signage, steady enforcement, and attentive driving each play a part. The recent incident is a reminder to look closely at the places where highway and town meet, to keep reporting what we see, and to support practical changes that make the right way unmistakable for everyone who travels our roads.
Updates will be posted as responses are received from BC Highway Patrol and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. If safety improvements are confirmed, we will note timelines and contact points for public feedback.
