Chapter I General Provisions
第一章 総則
第一条（この法律の目的）
The purpose of this Act is to protect injured parties and contribute to the sound progress of automobile transportation by establishing a system to guarantee compensation for damage in the event of a person's death or bodily injury due to the operation of an automobile and by taking measures to supplement that system.
第二条（定義）
The term "automobile" as used in this Act means an automobile as prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (2) of the Road Transport Vehicle Act (Act No. 185 of 1951) (other than a small-sized special purpose vehicle manufactured for use in farm work) or a motorized bicycle as prescribed in paragraph (3) of that Article.
この法律で「自動車」とは、道路運送車両法（昭和二十六年法律第百八十五号）第二条第二項に規定する自動車（農耕作業の用に供することを目的として製作した小型特殊自動車を除く。）及び同条第三項に規定する原動機付自転車をいう。
The term "operation" as used in this Act means the use of an automobile in keeping with the way that such a machine is used, regardless of whether people or things are being transported.
この法律で「運行」とは、人又は物を運送するとしないとにかかわらず、自動車を当該装置の用い方に従い用いることをいう。
The term "person in possession" as used in this Act means the owner of an automobile, or any other person with the right to use an automobile, that puts an automobile into operational use for that person's own benefit.
The term "driver" as used in this Act means a person that drives an automobile for the benefit of another person, or a person engaged in assisting another person in driving an automobile.
この法律で「運転者」とは、他人のために自動車の運転又は運転の補助に従事する者をいう。