I became intimately aware of this phenomena when I was learning to snowboard. Your body basically follows the direction of your head, and if you look at something, your body seems to just go in that direction.

I remember coming so close to hitting children or other learners on the hill because I really wanted to avoid them but inevitably headed their way so I'd have to crash myself to avoid them.

sometimes when I'm driving long distances I'm afraid I'll do just that when I see things along the road.