The per capita VMT graph shows a much less drastic increase. However, that graph was absolutely plummeting. The per capita high was about 10,100 in 2003 and the low was around 9,450 in 2011-2013. A swing of 650 miles/year doesn't sound like a lot. But, there are over 200 million drivers, so to have an AVERAGE change that much is kind of a big deal.

Of course, by 2015 we were back up to 9,700 so the per capita value IS coming back up. I should do a post with my per capita charts (and update for 2016 & 2017 numbers), huh?