Utility poles in France
Concrete H-poles and danger plaques
Grey concrete poles with an H-shaped cross-section, or a Danger de mort plaque, are strong France clues.
- Grey concrete poles with an H-shaped or hollowed cross-section.
- Old Danger de mort plaques and yellow ID plates.
- Thin wooden poles on country lanes.
14 photos, grouped by the clue they show.
Key clue Concrete H-pole 9
Key clue Slim wooden pole 2
Key clue Danger de mort plaque 2
Key clue Yellow pole plate 1
France: what its poles look like
France has a very recognisable pole: grey concrete with an H-shaped or hollowed cross-section, so the sides look like they have long grooves or holes. Many carry wooden or metal crossarms with insulators.
Older poles often have an oval metal Danger de mort (danger of death) plaque, and you can find yellow ID plates on them. On country lanes, thin wooden poles carry phone lines.
Concrete H-poles line roads all over rural France, between fields and through villages. Town centres have more lines underground or fixed to building walls.
Look-alikes: how to tell them apart
France vs 
Spain
Spain uses concrete poles too, but its villages often run cables along white house walls, and many Spanish concrete poles have a Y-shaped top. A Danger de mort plaque means France.
Questions about poles in France
What does Danger de mort mean on French poles?
It means danger of death: a warning not to touch the wires. These oval metal plaques are found on many older French poles and are a strong clue for France.
What do French utility poles look like?
Most are grey concrete with an H-shaped or hollowed cross-section, carrying crossarms and insulators. Thin wooden poles are common for phone lines in the countryside.