I've driven across France - it's not uncommon. I've also taken the train, it's much more expensive. In the US people fly because it's too big. Coast to coast is 4-5 hours by air.
It's not about travel efficiency, it's about distance in general. People are more knowledgeable about areas near them. People on the West Coast usa don't know about the East Coast as much.
Your argument depends on people being fundamentally different across the world, and they're not. It's racist.