[Grammar] Phrasal verb ‘pull in’ usage

[northpath]

Some dictionaries state:
if a vehicle or driver pulls in somewhere, they stop there
My comment: a vehicle does not move to the side of the road!
We pulled in at the side of the road (the side of the road has to be specified!)
Other dictionaries state:
if a driver pulls in, they move to the side of the road and stop:
She pulled in to let the ambulance pass.
So, does the phrasal verb ‘pull in’ mean that a vehicle stops at the side of the road or just stops somewhere?
I hope I'm clear.

 

[teechar]

If cars had to stop, they would typically do so at the side of the road.

 

[SoothingDave]

That would be "pull over" to me. You can "pull in" to a driveway or into a parking lot. You pull over to the side of the road.

 

[Tdol]

I pull in/up at the side of the road when I wish to stop driving.

I would pull in at the side of the road and pull up at traffic lights.

 

[andrewg927]

Maybe there is a difference between AE and BE. I would never say "I'm going to pull in to the shoulder." It's "pull over".

 

[emsr2d2]

I pull up at a red traffic light.
I pull in/over to the side of the road.
I pull up at the side of the road.
I pull in to a layby.
I pull over onto the hard shoulder.
I pull over to let an ambulance pass.
I turn off a road.
I take an exit/a sliproad off a motorway.

 

[Tdol]

I would most likely use pull over for external circumstances- a police officer ordering me to, a mechanical problem, to let an ambulance pass, etc.