The writer says not using a car provides a better quality of time spent and cost of living, but this is just their experience and perception.
I didn't drive for 6 months, and it cost me more time and more money. Being able to drive offers me greater freedoms, I now have time in the morning to have a slightly longer lie in, make myself some breakfast, and have a greater certainty that my mode of transport isn't going to get canceled. The levels of frustration and anxiety from using public transport are much greater than being in a car that I ensure is maintained.
The writer states that their friends are always late because they drive cars and are rushing everywhere, but on the other hand the writer needs to account for canceled transportation and so essentially has to have a buffer. The friends being late isn't down to the car, it's down to their time planning skills, they need to put a buffer in.
I disagree that giving up driving will reduce my stress and anxiety, I gave it up for 6 months and it was worse. The stress and anxiety of trying to navigate canceled transport and the "will I be able to get home without it costing me a fortune" is not something I enjoyed what was at least twice a week.