pulled out on

[Irelia20150604]

The quotation comes from BBC双语新闻讲解附字幕:法当局拆迁加来难民营_2016年上半年BBC新闻 - 可可英语

Quotation: This is not the first time one of Google's famed self-driving car has been involved in a crash, but it may be the first time it's caused one. The car traveling at 3km/hr pulled out on a public bus going 24km/hr. The human in the Google Vehicle reported that he assumed the bus would slow down, and so he did not override the car's self-driving computer. The company's self-driving car still now have a new reported minor 'fender-benders', the America's slang for a small collision.
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Hi everyone! What does "pulled out on" mean?

 

[PaulQ]

The semantics of the phrase are quite complex

To pull + adverb (usually, away, out, past,) (usually said of a vehicle and usually implying increasing speed) = to drive/accelerate + adverb. "He started the car and pulled (drove) away from the kerb." / "He pulled (drove) out of the junction when the lights turned green." / "He accelerated and pulled (drove) past the lorry."

The "on" is also complicated. It is the same on as in "He played a trick on him." where the on introduces the victim/object who is then surprised.

The car traveling at 3km/hr pulled out on a public bus = The car traveling at 3km/hr drove out [of somewhere] and [drove] into a public bus.

 

[Franco-filly]

It means "exited [from a side road/driveway] in front of a bus"

 

[se16teddy]

Yes, pull out means either move from one lane of traffic to another or move from a minor road on to a main road. You are supposed to give way when you pull out.

On indicates the person (here bus) that suffers from an action. Presumably, pulling out without giving way.

 

[Packard]

You can also "pull out" from a parking space.

"Pulled out on" is not an expression I would expect to hear in the USA. I would expect, "Pulled out failing to yield to ..." or "Pulled out, failing to yield the right of way..."