What type of lanes are designed to improve traffic flow and break up platoons of vehicles?

Overtaking lanes are specifically designed to facilitate smoother traffic flow by allowing faster-moving vehicles to pass those that are slower. These lanes help to break up platoons of vehicles, which are groups of cars traveling closely together, and thus reduce congestion by providing a designated space for overtaking. By allowing passing in a safe and structured manner, overtaking lanes can help maintain a steadier speed of traffic and reduce delays, especially on roadways where speed differences are significant.

The other types of lanes serve different functions. Climbing lanes, for example, are intended to assist slower vehicles in maintaining safe and efficient travel speeds when navigating steep gradients. Auxiliary lanes are typically used to accommodate various maneuvers such as merging or turning, while service lanes are primarily designed to provide access to adjacent properties without interfering with the main traffic flow. Each of these lane types has unique purposes that do not focus primarily on improving traffic flow through overtaking.