Squamish drivers are a careful bunch, and for good reason. The Sea to Sky corridor is busy in every season, with residents commuting, visitors discovering the region, and commercial traffic moving through town. That means road safety is always top of mind. A local resident recently experienced a wrong-way driving incident in our area, and while no formal details have been released, the report has prompted conversations about how we keep people safe on and off Highway 99. It is a useful reminder that preventing rare but high‑risk mistakes takes clear infrastructure, consistent enforcement, and day‑to‑day vigilance from all of us.
At the time of publication, official information about the reported incident has not been released by police. Squamish RCMP and B.C. Highway Patrol have been asked for comment; we will share updates once they are available. In general, police in British Columbia advise that if you encounter a dangerous situation on the road—such as a suspected impaired driver or a vehicle travelling the wrong way—call 911 as soon as it is safe to do so, provide your location and direction of travel, and share a brief description of the vehicle. After the fact, non‑emergency lines can be used to submit dashcam video or additional information to support an investigation.
Wrong‑way driving events are uncommon, but they are among the riskiest encounters because they can lead to head‑on collisions at higher speeds. Across Canada, these situations are often linked to a mix of factors: darkness or poor visibility, unfamiliarity with the area, missed signs at complex ramp terminals, construction detours, and, in some cases, impairment or distraction. Our community sits at a junction of local streets and a provincial highway, so getting the details right at interchanges and entrances matters.
Highway 99 through the Squamish area includes a combination of divided and undivided sections, multiple intersections, and several points where local traffic merges or exits. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) manages Highway 99, while the District of Squamish manages municipal streets. Over the years, MOTI has made corridor‑wide safety improvements on the Sea to Sky, including better lane delineation, reflective markers, barrier installations in select locations, and seasonal messaging through DriveBC. On municipal roads, the District continues to add crosswalk upgrades, traffic‑calming features, and visibility enhancements as part of its ongoing transportation and safety work. Each layer helps, but what happens at the exact spot where a driver decides which way to turn is just as crucial.
Transportation engineers point to a set of proven measures that can reduce wrong‑way entries at ramps or intersections. These include large, high‑contrast “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs placed directly in a driver’s line of sight, clear one‑way arrows on the pavement, reflective channelization that naturally guides vehicles the right direction, and improved lighting at decision points. In some jurisdictions, agencies also use red retroreflective markers that are more visible to drivers approaching from the wrong direction, as well as rumble strips or other tactile cues to signal an error quickly. These are practical tools that can be considered when agencies assess a location’s design.
Local drivers have also raised common‑sense ideas worth exploring: confirming that signage at entrances and exits is easy to read in rain and at night; checking that pavement arrows are still visible after winter wear; trimming vegetation that may obscure signs or sightlines; and reviewing temporary construction layouts so that detours don’t inadvertently funnel drivers the wrong way. When small issues stack up—a faded arrow here, a dim light there—confusion can grow. Keeping those basic elements in good shape is often the fastest way to reduce risk.
Enforcement remains part of the picture. B.C. Highway Patrol conducts regular patrols along Highway 99 and supports seasonal campaigns such as impaired driving enforcement. Local RCMP also responds to reports of dangerous or erratic driving on municipal roads. Community reporting helps both agencies focus their efforts. If residents notice repeated confusion at a particular location, passing that information along—with dates, times, and any patterns observed—can help support a targeted review.
Education is the third leg of the stool. As the corridor welcomes new residents and visitors, reminders about how to navigate our main interchanges go a long way. A short, map‑based explainer from the District on how to access Highway 99 from key neighbourhoods, paired with MOTI updates and DriveBC alerts, could make a difference—particularly for people relying on GPS that may lag or miscue near closely spaced turns. Community groups and road‑safety advocates can amplify those messages on social media and at local events, especially during peak travel seasons.
While this latest report is still being clarified, it sits in a broader conversation Squamish has been having for years: how to balance mobility and safety as our town grows. The answers are rarely dramatic; more often, they are steady, practical steps taken by multiple partners. For the Province, that can mean periodic safety audits of ramps and intersections on Highway 99, especially where local traffic and highway traffic cross paths. For the District, it can mean keeping crosswalks, lane markings, and wayfinding fresh, and flagging any provincial locations of concern to MOTI. For police, it means focused enforcement on high‑risk behaviours—speeding, impairment, and distraction—that can combine with a moment’s confusion to create severe outcomes. And for neighbours, it means driving defensively, taking a second look at signs when an area feels unfamiliar, and reporting problems early.
There are also simple habits that help each of us avoid becoming turned around at a ramp or complex intersection. Slow down near highway entrances and exits, especially in low light or heavy rain, and scan for directional arrows and one‑way signs before you commit to a turn. If your GPS suggests a manoeuvre that looks odd, pause and confirm with roadside signs—the signs govern. At night, be intentional about reading the reflective cues the roadway provides. And if a situation doesn’t feel right, find a safe place to pull over and reorient; a moment of patience is always better than taking a risky chance.
Residents who want to weigh in on specific locations can share concerns with both transportation authorities. For provincial highway issues, contact the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure through its regional office or the feedback channels listed on the TranBC and DriveBC websites. For municipal streets, contact the District of Squamish’s transportation team via the District website. If you witness an immediate hazard, call 911. For follow‑up information—such as dashcam footage—use the RCMP non‑emergency line once you are safely parked.
As Squamish Blog continues to follow this story, we will update readers when the RCMP or B.C. Highway Patrol provides confirmed details about the reported wrong‑way driving incident. We have also asked the Ministry of Transportation whether a location‑specific safety review is planned; any response will be shared promptly. In the meantime, if you have first‑hand information to provide to police, please contact them directly. If you have suggestions about signage or design at local entrances and exits, the District of Squamish and MOTI both welcome public input through their official channels.
Road safety is a shared effort. With thoughtful engineering, steady enforcement, and day‑to‑day attention from drivers, we can reduce the chance of rare events becoming serious crashes. The conversations sparked by this report are an opportunity to fine‑tune the details, listen to each other, and keep our neighbours safe on the routes we all travel.
Editor’s note: Official comment from Squamish RCMP, B.C. Highway Patrol, and the Ministry of Transportation is pending. We will publish updates as soon as they are confirmed by those agencies.
