Originally Posted by PoppaDrift

The brain is able to store a short term "movie" of what you are seeing. By always looking ahead, you are constantly updating yourself for what comes next while the brain is working with the info already gathered. I know this sounds goofy or "zen-like". But it actually works and is taught in driving schools.

On the same topic, when you find yourself in a slide, you must focus your eyes on where you want to be, not on where you are.