Many of us rely on Highway 99 and our connecting roads every day, whether for school drop-offs, commuting to work, or weekend trips. That’s why any report of a driver travelling the wrong way in our area understandably gets people talking about safety. The conversation matters because the risk, while rare, can be severe, and because solutions often require coordination among local residents, the District of Squamish, the RCMP, and the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. This is less about one incident and more about making sure our roads work safely for everyone, every day.
A local resident recently experienced a wrong-way driving incident in Squamish. As of publication, official details and any investigation updates from Squamish RCMP have not been released. We have asked for confirmation of what occurred and whether any enforcement or safety reviews are underway, and will share verified information when it becomes available. In the meantime, the event has prompted a broader discussion that is useful in its own right: what measures reduce the chance of a driver entering the wrong side of the road, and how can we as a community support them?
Highway 99 through Squamish is a provincial corridor managed by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI). It is a high-speed route that also serves local traffic, with a mix of at-grade intersections and stretches with medians. That combination can be confusing for unfamiliar drivers, especially during low visibility, winter weather, or peak travel times when volumes are heavy. While wrong-way events do not happen often, traffic safety research in BC and across Canada shows that when they do, the consequences can be serious because they typically involve head-on or high-speed conflicts. ICBC’s public safety messaging also consistently notes that impairment, distraction, and confusion remain key risk factors in severe collisions across the province. These are long-standing realities that do not point to any single cause, but they do point to a set of preventive tools that are known to help.
At the provincial level, MOTI follows the Transportation Association of Canada standards for road signage and road markings, and has implemented a range of safety features along the Sea to Sky corridor over the past decade. Many readers will be familiar with improvements such as centre-line rumble strips, reflectors and delineators, median barriers in certain segments, upgraded lighting in key locations, and speed management, as well as regular maintenance to keep signs visible. Enforcement is led by BC RCMP, including the Squamish detachment and regional traffic services. ICBC and police also run the CounterAttack campaign twice yearly to deter impaired driving. All of these measures support a safer system, but road safety is never “done,” and an incident like the one reported locally is a reasonable prompt to review whether specific locations in and around Squamish would benefit from additional steps.
What might those steps look like? On highways and busy arterials, reducing wrong-way entries typically starts with highly visible, standard signage placed where it cannot be missed, and reinforced in multiple ways. That means large “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs where drivers might accidentally turn into opposing lanes, complemented by clear pavement arrows, refreshed paint lines, and red retroreflective markers that instantly signal a driver has crossed into the wrong side. Channelization islands and vertical elements like flexible delineator posts can physically guide drivers into the correct lane and make a mistaken turn less likely. In some locations, brighter or LED-enhanced signs, improved lighting, and better placement of wayfinding signs ahead of an intersection help reduce last-second lane changes that lead to errors. Where data shows repeated problems, jurisdictions have also used detection systems that activate a flashing alert to warn a driver who has entered the wrong way. Not every site needs all of these, but they are part of the recognized toolkit.
Municipal roads are the District’s responsibility, while Highway 99 is under MOTI’s jurisdiction, so coordination is key. When residents report a near miss, District staff can review the connecting local approach to an intersection, check for faded markings or sightline issues, and flag concerns to MOTI for a provincial review of the highway-side configuration. Practical items—such as trimming vegetation that obscures a sign, refreshing paint, or adjusting sign placement so it is more prominent—often make a measurable difference and can be implemented relatively quickly. In winter, keeping snowbanks from blocking critical signs is equally important. If repeated concerns arise at the same location, a joint site visit by District staff, MOTI engineers, and RCMP can help determine whether the design encourages unintentional wrong-way movements and whether a reconfiguration would improve safety.
Community members have a role as well. If you encounter a vehicle travelling the wrong way or creating an immediate hazard, call 911. The RCMP prioritizes calls where there is an active risk to public safety. If you experience a close call and it is no longer an emergency, Squamish RCMP’s non-emergency line can take a report. If the concern relates to signs, markings, or road conditions on Highway 99, residents can also report to MOTI’s regional maintenance contractor or through DriveBC’s feedback channels. Clear descriptions, approximate times, and dashcam footage (if available) can help investigators and engineers focus on the correct location and scenario. This approach is more effective than social media alone because it gets the information directly to the people who can act on it.
Education and awareness matter, too. Wrong-way incidents are sometimes the end result of a chain of small missteps—rushing to make a turn, relying on a GPS prompt that doesn’t match the roadway, or driving while tired. Slowing down early, reading the signs before the intersection, and avoiding sudden lane changes are simple habits that prevent confusion. For visitors or new drivers in town, it helps to know that Highway 99 includes several intersections where local access and highway traffic meet at speed, and that the safest choice is often to continue to the next clearly signed intersection rather than making an unexpected turn. These are basic reminders, but they are part of a community-level safety culture that keeps people out of harm’s way.
Several readers have asked about data. Province-wide, ICBC collision data and RCMP enforcement trends consistently point to speed, impairment, and distraction as leading risks for serious crashes. Locally, a regular release of summary information—such as collision patterns by corridor and time of day—can help residents understand where the challenges are and support targeted improvements. We have asked agencies whether any recent data specific to wrong-way entries in the Squamish area can be shared and will publish it if and when it is available. Transparent information helps move the conversation from anecdotes to evidence, and ensures public input is directed where it can do the most good.
The bottom line is that safety on Highway 99 and our local roads relies on multiple layers working together: clear design and signage, maintenance that keeps everything visible and legible, steady enforcement, and attentive driving. A single incident does not define the corridor, but it is a reminder to check whether the basics are strong in the places we use most. In practical terms, that could mean a focused signage and markings review at key approaches, a short-term awareness push before the winter holiday travel period, and continued RCMP enforcement around impairment and high-risk driving behaviours. None of these measures are dramatic on their own, but together they make a real difference.
We have requested comment from Squamish RCMP on the reported wrong-way incident and from MOTI regarding any plans for a site-specific review in our area. We will update readers with confirmed information as it comes. In the meantime, residents seeking official updates can follow Squamish RCMP and DriveBC for incident alerts, and contact the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure with location-specific safety concerns. If MOTI confirms a review or safety improvements, we will share those details so the community knows what changes to expect and when they will occur.
Road safety is a shared responsibility. With timely reporting, evidence-based engineering, and everyday caution behind the wheel, we can reduce the chances of a dangerous mistake and keep more families moving safely through Squamish.
