Understanding the Risks of Sleeper Bus Travel

Sleeper buses have become a cornerstone of long-distance travel in India, offering a budget-friendly yet luxurious alternative to trains. However, behind the curtain of convenient overnight travel lies a series of structural and operational risks that have recently come under intense government scrutiny, and it is important that you know about these risks as well. Keep in mind that I am not talking about high-end VOLVO Sleeper buses, but rather the locally made Sleeper buses that are noncompliant with many regulations.

The Fire Trap Phenomenon

The most critical risk is the vulnerability to Fire. In just the last six months of 2025, six major sleeper bus fires claimed 145 lives. These vehicles often act as rolling furnaces because their interiors are lined with highly flammable materials like synthetic foam and curtains. Furthermore, many sleeper coaches are privately modified after being purchased as simple chassis, leading to blocked or narrow emergency exits and sealed windows that make escape nearly impossible during a panic.

Structural and Mechanical Hazards

• Center of Gravity:

Unlike seating buses, sleeper coaches have a higher center of gravity due to the stacked upper berths. This makes them prone to rolling over during high-speed turns or sudden swerves.

• Driver Fatigue:

Most sleeper journeys happen at night. Despite new 2026 mandates for drowsiness indicators, driver fatigue remains a leading cause of highway collisions.

• Impact Risks:

Standard sleeper berths lack seatbelts. In the event of a sudden brake or collision, a sleeping passenger can be thrown from their berth, leading to severe spinal or head injuries.

Personal Security and Health

Beyond accidents, passengers face the risk of theft while they sleep, as well as health issues stemming from poor ventilation and claustrophobic cabin designs.

Recognizing these systemic failures, the Indian government recently mandated that all sleeper buses must be built by accredited manufacturers and retrofitted with fire detection systems and emergency hammers. Until these standards are universal, the sleeper bus remains a high-risk gamble for the uninformed traveler.

My Conclusion

If you ask me, I love to travel in Sleeper Buses as these are pretty comfortable and reasonable in price, but I like to travel in VOLVO Sleeper buses, which have a lot of safety features built in them, so they are safer in comparison to the other sleeper buses. So in my opinion, you should travel in such buses that are compliant with the safety features rather than risking it all.