Many Squamish residents have been talking this week about how we keep one another safe on the road. The discussion follows word that a local resident recently experienced a wrong-way driving incident on Highway 99. While details from police are still being confirmed, the report has prompted a familiar question in our community: are the signs, markings, and driver habits along the Sea to Sky doing enough to prevent high-risk situations, especially in the darker winter months?
Highway 99 is the spine of Squamish life and economy. It carries commuters, school traffic, trades, freight, and a steady stream of visitors heading to and from the mountains. The route is managed by the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI), and it has seen substantial safety upgrades over the past 15 years, including median barriers on many divided sections, widened shoulders, new pavement, and improved signage as part of the corridor improvements completed ahead of the 2010 Winter Games. Even with that investment, the combination of higher speeds, complex access points, and changing weather means the margin for error can be small. Wrong-way driving remains rare, but it is among the most dangerous types of events because it can quickly lead to head-on crashes at highway speeds.
As of publication, Sea to Sky RCMP have not released a formal report on the incident and no injuries have been confirmed to us. We have requested details on the time, location, and whether any enforcement or charges are anticipated. We have also asked MoTI whether the relevant access point will see a signage or pavement-marking review. We will share updates as soon as there is an official response.
In the meantime, it is worth taking stock of what is in place and where improvements might help. On divided highway sections and at high-use access points, MoTI’s standard toolbox includes centreline and shoulder rumble strips, “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs facing potential wrong-way movements, reflective pavement arrows and edge lines, and added delineators or barriers to steer drivers into the correct lanes. Many interchanges and intersections also use reflective sign sheeting and high-visibility posts intended to be effective in low light and rain. These measures are based on national and provincial road design guidance and are used across BC on corridors similar to Highway 99.
Sea to Sky RCMP and BC Highway Patrol focus enforcement on common crash factors on this corridor: impaired driving, excessive speed, distraction, and unsafe passing. Police routinely conduct roadchecks as part of the provincial CounterAttack campaign and carry out targeted speed enforcement along known problem stretches. Under BC’s Motor Vehicle Act, vehicles can be impounded immediately for excessive speeding or impaired driving—steps intended to reduce the likelihood of severe crashes, including head-on collisions.
Still, residents know from daily experience that design and enforcement are only part of the picture. Visibility can change quickly with winter glare, heavy rain, or snow; unfamiliar visitors may be navigating at night; and some access points around commercial areas and service stations are busy, with multiple driveways close to the highway. That is why any report of a wrong-way movement understandably raises concern and calls for a careful look at how people approach and enter Highway 99, especially in locations with divided medians that can be confusing after dark.
Several community-minded ideas are already circulating that align with proven safety practices. A focused signage and pavement-marking check at the specific access leg involved—ensuring “Do Not Enter/Wrong Way” signs are present, properly placed, and highly visible—would be a logical first step. Where space allows, extending or tightening median islands to physically block wrong-way turns can reduce mistakes. On approaches with a history of confusion, refreshing pavement arrows and adding larger, more reflective guide signs can help drivers choose the correct path sooner. If lighting is limited, MoTI can consider whether additional illumination or reflective delineators would make the intended movement clearer on rainy nights.
Education and outreach also matter. For local drivers, it may be as simple as a reminder to take an extra second to confirm the lane layout at divided sections—particularly when leaving parking areas or service drives that connect back to the highway. For visitors, wayfinding helps: clear, consistent directional signage well before access points reduces last-second decisions. The District of Squamish can support this through its ongoing traffic safety communications, sharing simple graphics on how to navigate divided approaches and where turns are restricted. Businesses whose driveways feed the highway can check that their on-site exit signs and arrows are unambiguous and visible in poor weather.
From the enforcement side, RCMP and BC Highway Patrol often adjust deployments when they receive reports of hazardous driving patterns in a specific area. If data show a cluster of near-misses or confusion at a location, a mix of presence, education stops, and speed control can reinforce safer behaviour while engineering changes are assessed. Residents who witness dangerous driving are encouraged to call 911 when it is safe to do so, providing as much detail as possible on location and direction of travel. Non-urgent concerns about road markings or sign visibility can be directed to MoTI through its public information channels.
A few practical reminders may help reduce risk for all of us. If you encounter a driver who appears to be going the wrong way on a divided section, do not try to intervene. Reduce your speed, move to the right, and create space. Turn on your hazard lights to alert nearby traffic and call 911 as soon as it is safe. If you are leaving a business or side road near the highway, pause long enough to check the direction of the nearest lane and scan for “Do Not Enter” signs. In low light, follow the reflective pavement arrows and the flow of traffic; if anything feels uncertain, stop in a safe area and reassess rather than making a rushed movement.
Longer term, Squamish residents will expect a clear, coordinated response. A short, joint review by MoTI, Sea to Sky RCMP, and District staff of the access point at issue—and of any nearby locations with similar layouts—would give the community confidence that the right measures are in place. If adjustments are recommended, these can be scheduled into MoTI’s routine maintenance program. If current signage and markings meet standards, that finding is still useful, and it can be paired with targeted reminders about night driving and winter visibility on the Sea to Sky.
Our community has successfully pushed for safety improvements on Highway 99 in the past, and calm, fact-based feedback continues to make a difference. If you have observations about specific signs or markings, note the direction of travel, landmarks, and time of day; those details help engineers assess whether changes are warranted. Residents can also keep an eye on seasonal maintenance—plowed snowbanks, for example, should not obscure critical signs—and report any problems promptly.
We will update readers when Sea to Sky RCMP confirm details of the reported wrong-way incident and when MoTI advises whether a review or further improvements are planned at the location. For official information on highway conditions and maintenance, visit DriveBC and the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. For enforcement updates and safety campaigns, follow Sea to Sky RCMP and BC Highway Patrol channels. In the meantime, a bit more patience, a few extra seconds at highway access points, and continued attention to winter visibility can help keep our neighbours—and our visitors—safe.
