Squamish residents care deeply about keeping one another safe on the road, and with good reason. Many of us commute on Highway 99, drive children to activities, and welcome visitors year-round. When a local resident recently experienced a wrong-way driving incident in the Squamish area, it served as a timely reminder that even one moment of confusion or poor decision-making can put multiple people at risk. While the details of that particular encounter are not the focus here, the broader takeaway is clear: community awareness, responsible driving, and steady attention to road design all matter on the Sea to Sky.
Wrong-way driving is uncommon, but its consequences can be severe. It most often occurs where drivers enter an exit ramp by mistake or misread a turn at an intersection or interchange. Darkness, poor visibility, heavy rain, or snow can make directional signs harder to pick out. Visitors unfamiliar with the corridor may become disoriented, and a split-second error can put them—and everyone else—into harm’s way. That risk is magnified on a high-speed route like Highway 99.
The Sea to Sky corridor is a provincial highway managed by the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI). Over the past two decades, notably around the 2010 upgrades, the corridor saw significant safety improvements such as median barriers, wider shoulders, and new signage. Those investments have made a difference. But safety is not a one-time project; it’s a continuous process that relies on maintenance, enforcement, and public attention to changing conditions across seasons and years. As our community grows and traffic patterns shift, it’s reasonable to ask whether certain ramps, intersections, or merge areas are due for a fresh look.
For their part, RCMP Sea to Sky units conduct regular traffic enforcement along Highway 99, with an emphasis on speed, impairment, seatbelt use, and distracted driving. Across British Columbia, RCMP and partner agencies also run seasonal initiatives such as impaired driving “CounterAttack” campaigns. ICBC and police consistently report that speeding, distraction, and impairment remain leading factors in serious collisions provincewide. While wrong-way incidents may not show up as a large share of total crashes, they present a unique danger because approaching vehicles have very little time and space to react.
The key question for Squamish is how the community can translate a single alarming encounter into constructive steps. The answer likely involves a mix of driver awareness, local feedback to authorities, targeted enforcement, and, where warranted, roadway adjustments. On the awareness side, the message is simple: take a beat before turning or merging, especially in bad weather or low light. Visitors and new drivers benefit from clear, calm navigation instructions and not relying solely on a phone map when signage or lane markings tell a different story. If you see confusing or obscured signs, report them so they can be checked and, if necessary, replaced or repositioned.
When it comes to official action, MOTI is the decision-maker for highway signage, ramp markings, and interchange layouts. The ministry also works with maintenance contractors to keep reflective signs and pavement markings visible. Residents can flag site-specific concerns—such as a “Do Not Enter” or “Wrong Way” sign that appears faded, a missing arrow on pavement, or sightline problems—to the province through its public reporting channels. Even a handful of well-documented reports can prompt a closer review, particularly if they describe similar problems in the same spot.
Possible engineering measures that transportation agencies use to reduce wrong-way entries include larger and more conspicuous “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs, additional turn arrows and lane-direction markings on the pavement, reflective posts and delineators, high-visibility paint, and lighting improvements where warranted. On some higher-risk interchanges elsewhere, agencies have piloted sensors that trigger flashing warnings when a vehicle enters the wrong way. Not every tool is a fit for every location, but a systematic review can identify practical, cost-effective options when a pattern of confusion is found.
Local enforcement and education are the other pieces. Squamish RCMP and Sea to Sky Traffic Services regularly target high-risk driving behaviours along Highway 99. Although specific crash details in the recent incident were not available at the time of writing, police emphasize that the public should call 911 to report dangerous driving, including suspected wrong-way vehicles. If you ever encounter a wrong-way driver approaching, the safest general response is to reduce speed, move as far to the right as possible, and create space; do not attempt to stop or block the other vehicle. Once you are out of danger, pull over safely and call 911 with the most accurate location you can provide.
Within town limits, the District of Squamish focuses on municipal roads through measures such as traffic calming and targeted safety upgrades near schools, parks, and busy crossings. While the highway is a provincial responsibility, District staff can and do coordinate with the ministry on issues at the edges of municipal boundaries, such as signage on ramps connecting local streets to Highway 99. When residents bring site-specific concerns to the District, those can be forwarded to MOTI or used to request a joint review, as appropriate.
All of this points to a wider community conversation. Squamish has grown quickly, and seasonal peaks in visitor traffic add complexity to how the corridor functions. The more we share practical observations—without blame or drama—the more effectively agencies can focus attention where it’s needed. If an area regularly confuses out-of-town drivers, locals often see it first. A short note to the ministry or the District, supplemented with a photo of a hard-to-see sign or a description of a tricky turn, is useful. So is simply reminding our guests that the Sea to Sky rewards patience, especially in winter or heavy rain.
Data and transparency also matter. Provincial and regional traffic data, collision mapping, and community feedback can help identify whether wrong-way entries are isolated or part of a trend. If a trend exists, it strengthens the case for specific countermeasures. If it doesn’t, it still supports targeted reminders, such as seasonal campaigns reinforcing the basics: slow down, follow the arrows, and resist the urge to rush a turn when visibility is poor.
For now, we have asked Squamish RCMP and the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure whether any related reports have been received recently in the Squamish area and if a signage or interchange review is planned. If and when formal updates are available, we will share them. In the meantime, residents who have observed signage issues or confusing turns on or near Highway 99 can contact MOTI through its public feedback channels. For municipal road concerns, the District of Squamish accepts service requests through its website and customer service line.
The takeaway is not to be alarmed, but to stay engaged. The Sea to Sky remains one of the most scenic and demanding routes in the province. Its safety record improves when we pair careful driving with steady investment in clear signs, visible markings, and consistent enforcement. That’s a shared effort. If you have a concern about highway conditions or signage, report it. If you witness dangerous driving, call it in when safe to do so. And if you’re helping family or visitors navigate our interchanges, encourage them to slow down, read the road, and follow the posted directions first. That combination of awareness and accountability is how Squamish looks out for one another on Highway 99.
We will update this story as we receive confirmed information from Squamish RCMP and the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. For current road and weather conditions, check DriveBC before you go. To report highway maintenance or signage concerns, contact the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure through its public information channels. For municipal road issues, reach out to the District of Squamish. If an immediate safety risk exists, call 911.
