The significance of the dawn is complicated by the fact that the rising sun already possesses many connotations before its usage in the poem. Ordinarily, one might associate dawn with new beginnings and therefore view it as a hopeful symbol. However, given the narrator's disregard for the linear passage of time, in this poem, the dawn may serve as a warning that humanity is running out of new beginnings. Another connotation of the rising sun that is pertinent to this poem is the enduring association between light and the divine, particularly heaven. This is important as the driver's behavior is reckless and the rising sun could foreshadow their death.