Squamish residents have been talking about road safety again after a local resident recently experienced a wrong-way driving incident on Highway 99. While such events are uncommon, they are high risk, and they remind all of us—people driving home from work, parents heading to practice, and those commuting up and down the corridor—how quickly a routine trip can change. The conversation here is less about a single encounter and more about what we can do, together, to reduce the chance of it happening again.
Highway 99 through Squamish carries a mix of local and regional traffic, heavy vehicles, and tourism travel in all seasons. The corridor’s changing weather, varying lighting, and complex junctions in and around town can increase the potential for driver error, especially in the darker winter months. Wrong-way driving events are rare, but when they occur, they carry a high likelihood of severe outcomes because of the closing speeds involved. That reality is why residents are asking fair questions: Are signs clear enough? Are markings bright and consistent? Are drivers getting the reminders they need about paying attention and not driving impaired?
The RCMP’s Sea to Sky Traffic Services regularly conducts targeted enforcement on Highway 99, with a focus on speed, impairment, and distraction—three factors that often underpin serious crashes. Officers encourage people to report dangerous driving by calling 911 when it is safe to do so, so that patrols can be directed where they are needed most. We have asked RCMP for any information they can share about recent wrong-way driving reports in the Squamish area; any official updates will be shared once confirmed.
On the infrastructure side, the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (the Ministry) sets standards for highway signs and markings that are intended to prevent wrong-way movements at access points. These include “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs at locations where a driver might mistakenly turn into opposing lanes, high-visibility directional arrows on the pavement, and reflective devices to guide drivers at night or in poor weather. Rumble strips, improved line markings, and raised medians or delineators are also used in certain locations to help keep vehicles in the correct lanes and provide tactile warnings when a vehicle drifts.
The Ministry has implemented a number of safety measures across the Sea to Sky corridor over the past decade, including intersection upgrades, added turn lanes in high-volume areas, and enhanced markings and reflectivity. Sections of Highway 99 in the corridor also operate under variable speed limit systems that respond to road and weather conditions to improve overall safety and driver compliance. These measures don’t eliminate risk entirely, but they are part of a layered approach that combines design, visibility, and enforcement.
Local conditions matter as much as provincial standards. Squamish continues to grow, and traffic volumes around commercial access roads, residential neighbourhoods, and construction areas have increased. More vehicles mean more decision points at intersections and driveways along the highway. If signs are partially obstructed by vegetation, if markings fade more quickly in winter, or if lighting creates glare at certain angles, those are practical issues that can make a difference in a driver’s split-second judgement. Residents can help by reporting concerns about signs and markings to the Ministry’s maintenance contractor or through the District, which can forward them to the appropriate agency for review.
The District of Squamish works with the Ministry, RCMP, and local partners on road safety priorities. While Highway 99 is a provincial highway, collaboration is essential because many of the busiest access points connect to District streets. A focused look at areas where drivers may feel rushed or confused—such as high-turnover commercial entrances, complex intersections, or places with changing lane configurations—can identify small but meaningful fixes, like repositioning a sign for better sightlines, improving nighttime reflectivity, or refreshing directional arrows ahead of peak travel periods. The District has emphasized traffic safety in its transportation planning, and this is an opportunity to apply that lens to provincial connections through town.
Community members are also asking what we can do as individual drivers. ICBC and police consistently emphasize a few basics that apply to every high-speed corridor: slow down and give yourself time to read the road; avoid impairment and distraction; keep your headlights clean and properly aimed; and choose the rightmost lane when traffic is light, especially at night, since vehicles driving the wrong way sometimes drift toward the centre. If you suspect a vehicle ahead may be coming at you, reduce your speed, steer as far right as you safely can, and come to a controlled stop if needed. Once you are out of immediate danger, call 911 to report the location, direction of travel, and vehicle description if you have it. These are straightforward steps that help police respond quickly.
Education and awareness have a role to play too. Seasonal reminders about winter visibility, lane discipline through construction areas, and how to use highway access points around Squamish can reach newer drivers and those unfamiliar with local conditions. Local schools and community associations often partner on practical safety messaging, and businesses along the highway can help by keeping access signage and wayfinding orderly and visible for customers. A simple reminder where people are making decisions—like a clearly placed “Exit Only” or “No Left Turn” sign—can prevent an error before it starts.
Looking ahead, there are several practical next steps. First, a signage and pavement-markings review in and near Squamish would help confirm that current standards are met and that visibility is consistent in all seasons and lighting conditions. Second, the Ministry and its maintenance contractor could assess whether additional reflectors, rumble strips, or median delineators are warranted at locations where drivers transition between local streets and Highway 99. Third, continued RCMP presence and public reporting can direct enforcement to times and places where risk is higher. Finally, a short, local awareness campaign on “how to navigate Highway 99 access points safely” could be developed with input from the District, the Ministry, and community groups.
At the time of publication, official comment from RCMP and the Ministry specific to the recent wrong-way driving report is pending. We have asked both agencies whether any investigation is underway and whether signage or access points near Squamish will be reviewed as part of routine safety work. We will share updates as soon as they are confirmed by those agencies.
In the meantime, if you notice a sign that is down, damaged, or obscured, you can report it to the Ministry’s local maintenance contractor or through the Ministry’s service request channels. For immediate hazards or dangerous driving in progress, call 911. For non-emergency information, residents can contact the Squamish RCMP detachment. DriveBC remains the best source for real-time highway conditions and incident notifications along the corridor.
This is a community that takes safety seriously. A single wrong-way encounter is one too many, and it is worth our collective attention. Clarity in design, consistency in maintenance, visible enforcement, and everyday driver care all contribute to preventing the next close call. Squamish Blog will continue to follow this issue and provide verified updates. We have asked the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure if any additional safety improvements are planned in the Squamish area, and will report back on their response.
