Austin is on an urgent business trip using his own car, and drives at 15 miles per hour beyond the speed limit. Austin displays cognitive dissonance by saying to himself, "I am aware of the speed limit on this highway, but the limit does not apply to a very important business trip."

Austin is experiencing cognitive dissonance by holding two conflicting beliefs - that he should follow the speed limit, and that he needs to drive faster for his urgent business trip. To resolve the discomfort caused by this dissonance, he rationalizes by convincing himself that the speed limit doesn't apply to his important trip.