I've had that too from time to time. I don't think I'd consider it hypnosis as you describe it, Keith, because anything out of the ordinary, hikers, cars pulling out, etc, are always noticed. Its just that I don't pay attention to the same old stuff that I've seen a million times. I don't see the store, but if Puncho the clown were dancing in front of the store, well then I'd probably notice... :-D
Sometimes however...I'll see the biker, hiker, etc, but not until i'm closer than I should be. Perhaps its that that snaps the hypnosis?
But thankfully its really really rare that anything like that happens.