I am 46 and currently learning to drive.
I took a test when I was 21, failed and as I lived in the city, didn't bother taking it again. Then I developed a health problem that meant I wasn't allowed to anyway for a while. We have good transport links, schools within walking distance etc and do all our shopping online, but there have still been odd occasions when I have struggled (eg when one of the dcs' friends arranges a party somewhere further away).
After all those years, even once I was allowed to start learning again I didn't, I put it off because I couldn't face going through another test.
Fast forward a few years, with 3 dcs at three different schools, one the other side of the city and one a mile and a half away, but the dc that goes there now has mobility issues, I find it really difficult not being able to just hop in a car whenever I need to.
I have taken my test twice in the last year and both times failed with no minors the first time and 1 minor the second (messed my words up on the questions before you even start driving 
) but one silly mistake that was purely down to nerves. Both times feedback from the examiners was that there is nothing wrong with my driving, I just need to conquer my driving test nerves. Waiting time for retests is currently over 3 months in our area and in the meantime I am having one hell of a month, purely because I can't drive and kicking myself for failing. (I am due to retake my test, again, in January.)
Dc2 has had two trips to A&E for different injuries, requiring multiple follow up appointments (all due to his mobility problems). My parents were fantastic for driving him to and from school between the first and second incident and I can't thank them enough, but he is going to suffer longer term than expected and won't be walking even after half-term, which is when my parents are going on a month long trip abroad. Dh might be able to get him to school early in the morning, but I am going to have to try and work out some way of getting him home in the afternoon, whilst having to collect dd from a different school at the same time. Heaven help us if he needs to go back to A&E while my parents are away, as it will have to be taxis, with the added stress/worry of possibly not getting back in time for dd.
One of the A&E trips was due to a problem that occurred while he was at school. I had to call my Mum to go and pick him up for me, as, although I could normally take a taxi, I had another child off sick who could have come in our car at a push, but it really wouldn't have been fair to inflict their germs on a taxi driver. Mum then spent the afternoon with A&E with us, because he needed paeds A&E, which is in the city, so a very long drive and he was in excruciating pain. Dh has booked the morning off work to take him to his follow up appointment for the second A&E trip.
Since then, dc number 3 has come down with an illness that's required 2 short-notice/triage trips to the GP while dh was at work.
The number of unexpected things that have required me to get somewhere quickly in a car over the past three weeks has been unbelievable and I am kicking myself for failing my tests, as if I'd passed things would have been far less stressful.
I am also acutely aware that very soon I will need to be the one that drives my parents around, rather than vice-versa and I really want to be able to do that for them, given all the help they've given me over the years.
I honestly thought we were doing ok without me driving. My dcs are 14, 12 and 7 and we've always managed, rarely having to ask anyone for lifts, up until now, but with dc2's problems and my parents getting older, I honestly wish I'd just done it years ago.