Many of us rely on Highway 99 every day—to commute, run errands, or get kids to activities. That’s why even one report of a wrong-way driver near Squamish resonates across the community. It’s a reminder that road safety isn’t abstract. It’s here, it’s shared, and it depends on good engineering, consistent enforcement, and drivers who look out for one another.
A local resident recently experienced a wrong-way driving incident in the Squamish area. Details about where and when it happened, potential contributing factors, and whether police made contact with the other motorist have not been released by authorities. At the time of publication, official comment from RCMP and the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) is pending. We will update readers as confirmed information becomes available.
While wrong-way events are uncommon, they carry a high risk of serious crashes. That reality is why these incidents draw immediate interest from residents and swift attention from road authorities. The focus now is not on rehashing one person’s experience, but on the broader question: what more can be done—locally and provincially—to reduce the chance of this happening again?
On provincial highways such as Highway 99, MoTI is responsible for engineering, signage, and maintenance. Standard measures to deter wrong-way entries at ramps and access points include “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs, clearly marked arrows on pavement, reflective delineators, and median barriers where space allows. Following reports of driver confusion or near-misses, MoTI typically reviews sign placement, visibility at night and in winter weather, and whether additional measures—such as larger, more reflective signage or improved lighting—are warranted.
Enforcement on Highway 99 is led by BC Highway Patrol (an RCMP unit) and supported by local RCMP detachments along the Sea to Sky. Patrols target behaviours most often linked with severe outcomes, including impaired driving, excessive speed, distracted driving, and failing to yield. Police routinely ask the public to report dangerous driving to 911 when it is safe to do so, and to provide as much detail as possible about location and direction of travel.
For context, the Sea to Sky corridor has seen significant safety upgrades over the past two decades. Leading up to the 2010 Winter Olympics, Highway 99 between West Vancouver and Whistler underwent major improvements: widened sections, realigned curves, added barriers and guardrails, and enhanced signage. MoTI has continued to refine the corridor since then. On sections between Squamish and Whistler, the province operates a Variable Speed Limit System that adjusts posted speeds in response to changing conditions, while overhead and roadside message signs provide timely alerts about incidents and weather.
Even with these investments, complexity remains. The corridor serves a mix of daily commuters, local deliveries, visitors heading to recreation areas, and commercial traffic. Conditions can change quickly with weather and light, especially at dawn and dusk and in shoulder seasons. Interchanges and access points near communities, industrial sites, and trailheads require clear, consistent cues so drivers unmistakably choose the correct direction of travel.
Closer to home, the District of Squamish manages municipal streets and intersections, while MoTI oversees the provincial highway and its ramps. When incidents or near-misses are reported, each authority has a role: municipal staff can review local signage, line painting, and sightlines; MoTI can assess highway access points and interchange geometry; and RCMP can target problem areas with education and enforcement. Coordination among these teams is a routine part of maintaining corridor safety.
It is important to avoid assuming a single cause in any wrong-way occurrence. Across North America, research points to a combination of factors in many cases: confusion at complex intersections or unfamiliar access points, low visibility, fatigue, or impairment. The takeaway for communities is that prevention requires layered solutions. Clearer wayfinding, reflective signs and markings, rumble strips, and consistent law enforcement work best when paired with driver awareness and timely public reporting.
Residents who notice locations where signage is hard to see, where lines are worn, or where drivers seem uncertain can help move improvements along by sharing observations with the right agency. For issues on Highway 99 or its ramps, residents can submit a service request to MoTI or contact the local maintenance contractor identified on DriveBC. For concerns on municipal roads, the District of Squamish accepts service requests through its customer service channels. If an immediate hazard exists—such as an active wrong-way driver—call 911.
There are also steps the community can consider in the short term while official reviews are underway. A local awareness push—reminding drivers to double-check wayfinding at unfamiliar ramps, slow down in low light, and avoid distracted turns—can make a difference. Community associations and parent groups often play a practical role here, sharing seasonally relevant tips through newsletters and social media. Employers with shift-work crews that access Highway 99 during quieter hours can reinforce route plans and signage recognition in tailgate talks.
From a policy standpoint, residents may wish to encourage an immediate, targeted review by MoTI of ramp signage and pavement arrows near high-activity access points in the Squamish area, particularly where industrial traffic or visitor traffic is frequent. Small, fast upgrades—fresh line paint, higher-mount reflective signs, additional “Do Not Enter” and directional arrows, or supplementary delineators—are relatively low-cost and can be deployed quickly if warranted by a site review.
Enforcement and education also matter. BC Highway Patrol and local RCMP periodically run high-risk driving campaigns and impaired driving CounterAttack initiatives. A joint message specific to our area—reinforcing how to respond if you encounter a vehicle travelling the wrong way, and how to report it—could help close information gaps. When drivers know what to do, they are more likely to stay calm, create space, and help police intervene sooner.
Squamish residents have proven time and again that collaboration moves the needle on safety. The pathway forward on this issue looks much the same: residents share what they see; the District and MoTI assess and adjust engineering; RCMP maintains a visible presence and focuses on high-risk behaviours; and we all drive with a little more patience and attention, especially where the road network blends local streets with the provincial highway.
We have asked the RCMP and the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure if a review is underway following this reported incident and whether additional measures are being considered near Squamish access points. If and when they provide details, we will share them here. In the meantime, residents can find service request information through the District of Squamish and MoTI websites, follow updates from BC Highway Patrol and Sea to Sky RCMP on their official channels, and continue to report hazards promptly. Keeping Highway 99 safe is a team effort; your observations and care behind the wheel are an important part of that work.
