A teenage boy has been taken to hospital following a serious collision between an electric bicycle and a car in the Illawarra suburb of Unanderra, reigniting debate around the regulation of the popular vehicles.
Details of the Unanderra collision
Emergency services were called to the Princes Highway near Farmborough Road at approximately 8:40pm on Thursday, January 15, 2026. The incident occurred when a car, driven by a 56-year-old man, was allegedly preparing to exit a driveway and collided with the e-bike.
Paramedics treated the 13-year-old rider at the scene for a range of injuries including abrasions, as well as suspected rib and ankle damage. As a precaution, he was transported by road ambulance to Shellharbour Hospital for further assessment. The driver of the car underwent a roadside breath test, which returned a negative result.
Growing calls for e-bike regulation
The crash has amplified existing concerns about the safety and oversight of e-bikes, whose popularity has exploded across Australia. Sales and imports have nearly tripled in the past five years, with more than 600,000 households now owning one.
In response to a string of accidents, NSW opposition transport spokeswoman Natalie Ward has called for mandatory number plates to be introduced for certain e-bike riders, particularly those under the age of 18. This measure is seen as a way to improve accountability and enforcement.
Police have also been cracking down on modified e-bikes and riders exceeding speed limits. NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, David Driver, used the opportunity to reiterate a fundamental safety message. "We can't stress enough the importance of wearing helmets when you're riding any kind of bike," he said.
The national debate on micromobility safety
This incident in Unanderra is part of a broader national conversation about how to safely integrate new forms of personal transport, like e-bikes and e-scooters, into existing road infrastructure. Key points of discussion include:
- Registration and identification: Whether number plates or other identifiers are necessary for law enforcement and insurance purposes.
- Rider education: Ensuring users, especially younger riders, understand road rules.
- Vehicle standards: Policing illegal modifications that can make e-bikes unsafe and excessively powerful.
The call for mandatory plates highlights the tension between encouraging sustainable transport and ensuring public safety. As communities like Wollongong and the wider Illawarra region continue to adopt these vehicles, the outcome of this regulatory debate will have significant local impact.
