Mr Cox has coveted the role as chairman of the Road Safety Advisory Council for three years, but was denied the inaugural chair.

According to Mr Cox he lost out on the role to former fire chief John Gledhill in 2010 because the government felt it was too soon after his retirement from politics.

The former police and infrastructure minister resigned at the 2010 election, taking a $950,000 pay packet for his 16 years in office.

Mr Cox first hit the headlines when he refused a $110,000 bribe from ENT Ltd chairman Edmund Rouse in 1989 to cross the floor and prevent a minority government with the Greens. 

When police minister he oversaw the commissioning of the unusable PV Fortescue and was linked to allegations that then Police Commissioner Jack Johnston had disclosed official secrets. The charges against Mr Johnston were dismissed in the Supreme Court and in the High Court on appeal.

Mr Cox said yesterday that, in hindsight, it was better to step back from politics than go straight into the road safety role.

``It's certainly given me an opportunity to reassess and probably come back with fresher ideas, a fresher attitude,'' he said.

Mr Cox said he wanted to see the council become ``a little more pro-active'' in running public campaigns on road safety, as well as maintaining its advisory work.

He said he did not think his past life as a Labor minister, and current position as a Launceston City Council alderman, would affect the role.

``I don't see road safety as a political issue, and I don't think anyone else does,'' he said.

Infrastructure Minister David O'Byrne will formally announce the appointment today.

``(Mr Cox) brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge around road safety, having been instrumental in the implementation of a number of major road safety initiatives in his many previous roles,'' Mr O'Byrne said.

Mr O'Byrne thanked Mr Gledhill for his work in the role, which included introducing automatic number plate recognition cameras and the $12 million a year Road Safety Levy.