Highway safety is a shared concern in Squamish, and it rises to the top whenever people see something that doesn’t feel right on the road. A local resident recently experienced a wrong-way driving incident near Highway 99. While the specific details are not the focus here, the report has renewed community conversations about how we keep one another safe on a highway that carries commuters, families, and visitors through town every day.
Squamish RCMP is the lead agency for traffic enforcement in our community, and the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (the Ministry) manages Highway 99, including signage, pavement markings, and design. We have asked both the RCMP and the Ministry for information about any recent wrong-way reports in the Squamish area and whether reviews are underway. Official comment is pending. We will share updates as soon as they are confirmed.
Wrong-way driving is uncommon but high risk. National and provincial road-safety guidance consistently points to a few recurring factors in these events: driver confusion at complex intersections, reduced visibility in the dark or heavy rain, and, at times, impairment or distraction. The goal of engineering and enforcement is to reduce the chance of an error and to help drivers quickly recognize and correct a mistake before a collision can occur.
The Sea to Sky corridor has seen significant safety improvements over the past 15 years, especially in the lead-up to and following the 2010 Winter Games. Across Highway 99, the Ministry has used a range of measures that are standard in British Columbia and aligned with the Transportation Association of Canada’s guidelines. These include centreline and shoulder rumble strips, median barriers in higher-speed sections, improved sightlines, reflective delineators, and larger, more visible signage. In and around Squamish, intersections connect local neighbourhoods directly to the highway, which means design, maintenance, and enforcement have to work hand-in-hand as traffic volumes and travel patterns grow and change.
When a wrong-way incident is reported, the immediate priority is public safety. Police encourage anyone who sees a vehicle travelling the wrong way on a divided highway to pull over safely and call 9-1-1. Drivers encountering an oncoming vehicle are generally advised to slow down, move as far to the right as safely possible, and avoid sudden lane changes that could put them in the path of others who are also reacting. RCMP also regularly reminds drivers that impairment, distraction, and excessive speed increase the risk of serious outcomes in any unusual situation.
Engineering responses to wrong-way risk are well established. At highway ramp terminals and intersections, transportation agencies typically review the size, placement, and height of “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs, the clarity and reflectivity of pavement arrows, and the use of directional raised pavement markers that show red to drivers travelling the wrong way. Agencies may also consider additional lighting, vegetation trimming to improve sightlines, reflective strips on sign posts, and channelization that physically guides drivers into the correct lane. Even small adjustments—lowering a sign to a driver’s eye level or adding a second sign in the driver’s cone of vision—can make a difference at night or in rainy conditions.
Local knowledge is an essential part of this work. Squamish residents drive these roads daily and can identify places where confusion is more likely—an awkward angle at a ramp, a faded arrow that’s easy to miss in the wet, or a sign partially blocked by seasonal growth. On municipal roads, the District of Squamish encourages residents to report maintenance and safety concerns through Service Squamish so staff can investigate and prioritize fixes. For Highway 99, which is provincially managed, residents can report issues such as damaged or obscured signs, missing delineators, or poor visibility to the Ministry or its maintenance contractor. Clear, specific location details—nearby intersections, direction of travel, and time of day—help crews assess conditions quickly.
Education and enforcement are the other pillars. Squamish RCMP participates in provincial traffic safety campaigns throughout the year, including seasonal CounterAttack impaired driving enforcement and distracted driving initiatives. These campaigns are a reminder that careful, sober, and attentive driving is still the foundation of road safety. In previous Ministry and police advisories across BC, officials have emphasized that good lane discipline, obeying posted speeds, and being prepared for the unexpected on busy corridors like the Sea to Sky reduce the chance of a near-miss turning into something worse.
The conversation in Squamish also connects to broader planning. As the community grows—with more people commuting within town, to Whistler, and to the Lower Mainland—pressure points change. Traffic volumes at certain intersections ebb and flow with work hours, school schedules, and tourism seasons. That means signage and markings that were once adequate may benefit from another look, especially where local streets meet the highway. The Ministry’s routine safety reviews and the District’s transportation planning aim to keep up with these shifts, but resident input helps focus attention where it’s needed most.
What are practical next steps? First, if you encounter or witness a wrong-way situation, prioritize safety: pull over where it’s safe and call 9-1-1. Second, if there is a specific location where you believe signage or markings could be clearer, document what you see and report it. For municipal streets, contact Service Squamish. For Highway 99, reach out to the Ministry or its maintenance contractor through the provincial reporting channels. Photos taken safely when parked, along with a simple description, can be useful for crews who may visit during a different time of day or weather.
Third, consider adding your voice when public engagement opportunities arise. The District periodically invites feedback on transportation and road safety topics, and the Ministry conducts reviews and projects on Highway 99 based on data, engineering criteria, and stakeholder input. Hearing from the people who use these roads daily helps align improvements with real-world conditions.
Finally, continue the everyday habits that make a difference. Drive at or below the posted speed in poor weather. Use headlights in low light and rain. Take an extra beat at complex intersections to confirm you’re lined up correctly before entering the highway. If a sign or marking looks confusing, that’s worth reporting—even if you made it through without trouble. Small observations, multiplied by many residents, often lead to quick, low-cost fixes that improve safety for everyone.
As we await official comment on the reported wrong-way incident, the core message remains steady: safety on Highway 99 is a shared effort. Engineering, enforcement, and education all matter, and so does careful driving. Squamish has a strong record of stepping up when there’s a chance to improve our streets and highways. If you have information to share or a concern to flag, please do so through the appropriate channels.
For verified updates, residents can check the Squamish RCMP news page for advisories and enforcement information, and the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for notices about Highway 99 maintenance or safety reviews. We will publish further details on any confirmed actions related to local ramp signage or intersection improvements as they become available.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has been asked whether a site review is planned in response to recent community reports. Any confirmed assessment or safety improvement schedule will be shared with readers once official information is released.
