When a driver travels the wrong way on a divided roadway, everyone nearby is at risk. A recent wrong-way driving incident reported by a local resident has renewed community talk in Squamish about how we keep each other safe on and around Highway 99. Even though events like this are uncommon, they can be catastrophic when they happen. The conversation now is less about one moment on the road and more about what practical steps can reduce the chance of it happening again.
Highway 99 is the backbone of daily life in Squamish. It carries commuters, school traffic, commercial vehicles, and a steady flow of visitors year-round. Responsibility for the corridor is shared: the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure manages the highway and its interchanges, BC Highway Patrol and Squamish RCMP handle enforcement, and the District of Squamish coordinates local streets and liaises with the province on regional safety issues. Each plays a different role, and coordinated follow-up after a near-miss or collision tends to produce the best results.
Officials generally address wrong-way risks through a few proven tools. The province follows national standards for traffic control devices, which include “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs placed at off-ramps and other one-way approaches, as well as pavement arrows, raised reflectors, and lane markings designed to cue drivers in low light and poor weather. Rumble strips and delineators at ramp terminals can also help drivers realize they’re heading the wrong way. On the enforcement side, RCMP focus on impaired and high-risk driving behaviours that are often associated with the most serious outcomes on divided highways. None of these measures alone eliminates the possibility of a wrong-way entry, but together they reduce the odds and increase the chance that a driver will self-correct quickly.
The Sea to Sky Highway has seen substantial safety upgrades in the past two decades, including wider lanes, improved sightlines, new barriers in several sections, and more consistent signage. Those investments have lowered the severity of many crashes across the corridor. Even so, traffic volumes and patterns have changed as Squamish has grown, and the mix of local and visitor traffic means fresh attention is needed at the decision points where drivers merge on and off the highway. Community observations—especially about nighttime visibility, confusing lane drops, or signage that’s easy to miss—are valuable inputs when the province reviews specific locations.
It’s worth noting that wrong-way incidents are typically rare compared with other collision types along Highway 99. The crashes that most often show up in corridor data tend to involve speed, impairment, distraction, and lane departure. That doesn’t make wrong-way entries any less serious; it simply helps guide where resources and attention should go. If one wrong-way event signals a spot where drivers are getting surprised, that’s a cue for a focused look at that ramp or intersection rather than a broad assumption that the entire corridor is failing.
Local residents are already offering practical ideas that fit within established safety playbooks. Many point to larger and lower-mounted “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs to meet drivers’ eye level, especially where headlights, rain, and glare can interfere with visibility. Others flag the value of refreshed pavement arrows and higher-visibility edge lines approaching ramps, plus better lighting and reflective devices at ramp noses. These are modest, well-understood adjustments that the Ministry can consider as part of regular maintenance or targeted safety reviews. Community members have also asked whether speed approaching major access points could be managed more consistently, which is something the province and BC Highway Patrol can assess using collision records and traffic counts.
From an enforcement and education perspective, the message remains straightforward. If you see a vehicle travelling the wrong way, call 911 immediately. That guidance comes from police agencies across British Columbia, including Squamish RCMP and BC Highway Patrol, and it reflects the urgency of the hazard. For non-emergency concerns—such as a confusing sign placement or a recurring near-miss that hasn’t yet led to a crash—residents can contact the Squamish RCMP’s non-emergency line or share details with the District and the Ministry’s regional office so the right team can investigate. DriveBC remains the best source for real-time road and incident updates before you head out.
Weather and lighting influence how effective signs and markings are, and that’s particularly relevant in our climate. Winter brings early dusk, rain, and occasional snow. The province’s “Shift into Winter” campaign emphasizes slower speeds and longer following distances, but those same habits also give drivers more time to process wayfinding at interchanges and prevent a simple mistake from becoming a deadly one. Nighttime conditions can make red “Do Not Enter” signs blend into competing light sources, and retroreflective enhancements or supplemental signs on both sides of a ramp can make a real difference.
There’s also a local planning angle. While the District of Squamish does not control Highway 99, it regularly coordinates with the province on matters of safety and access. When residents report a specific concern—say, confusing wayfinding for a detour or a driveway that feels too close to a merge—the District can help channel that feedback to the right provincial team. In recent years, Squamish has taken steps to improve local road safety on municipal streets, including updated markings and traffic calming in neighbourhoods near highway access points. Keeping that coordination tight helps ensure highway changes and local network changes work together.
Looking ahead, there are a few practical next steps the community can expect or request. A site-level review by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is a common first move after a wrong-way report. That kind of review may include confirming that the right signs are in place and visible, checking for foliage or construction that blocks sightlines, and deciding whether to add duplicate or larger signs, improved lighting, or more prominent pavement arrows. If patterns emerge from police files or maintenance logs—such as repeated complaints at the same ramp—engineers can consider design refinements such as extended channelization or additional delineators to steer drivers correctly. Public information reminders from local authorities can also help, particularly ahead of long weekends and peak visitor periods when wayfinding errors are more likely.
On the community side, residents can help by sharing precise details when making a report. Time of day, direction of travel, weather, and any notes about hard-to-see markings or unusual traffic can speed up an effective response. It’s not about assigning blame; it’s about building a clear picture of what drivers are experiencing so that controllers, engineers, and police can fix the right problem first. As always, the most immediate action in a live hazard remains to call 911.
As of publication, Squamish RCMP and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure have been asked for comment on any planned follow-up in the area referenced by the recent report. If they confirm a site review or specific safety improvements, we will share those details. In the meantime, residents can find timely travel information through DriveBC, reach Squamish RCMP for non-emergency driving concerns, and report maintenance or signage issues to the Ministry’s regional office for the South Coast. Keeping Highway 99 safe is a shared effort, and this latest reminder is an opportunity to tighten up the small things that make a big difference.
This story will be updated as official information is confirmed. For urgent hazards on the road, call 911. For road condition updates, check DriveBC. For questions about enforcement, contact Squamish RCMP or BC Highway Patrol. For signage and highway design concerns, contact the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, South Coast Region.
